Actually... I'm kind of ok with it

There are 211 FIFA nations, so it isn't entirely unreasonable to stage a finals competition in which more than three-quarters of the membership still won’t actually participate.

Also group stages are dull. The finalists will now play two group and four knockout matches to get to the final instead of three and three. Also it is now impossible to be knocked out before your final group match. Every game matters.

32 teams going through to the knockout phase is an actual cup competition. Discounting the 3rd/4th place play-off, that’s 31 proper, sudden death knockout matches. Also, I love seeing different nations – African, Asian, Central American etc.

It might not be the perfect format, it might be all about money, it might have a few more s**t games… but it’s really going to be ok. It’s still football. Put the ball in the net.

And we will watch.
Every. Single. Game.

Posted By: norway, Jan 10, 13:09:55