John Delaney spoke and Uefa listened.
Euro 2016 saw 24 teams competing for the first time in the international competition’s history, with the chief executive of the FAI one of the most prominent campaigners for an increase from the 16 teams that took part in the competition from 1996 to 2012.
While the expansion of the competition helped countries like Ireland reach the finals, there are many who are less than enthralled by the format which sees just eight teams eliminated from the entire group stage.
This system has been blamed for some of the frankly dull football that has been on display so far as the bigger teams know that they’ll definitely qualify, while other sides are desperate not to lose as three points could be enough to reach the knockout stages.
Also causing a lot of headaches is the system which sees the four-best third placed teams qualify for the last-16.
It’s led to a situation where Albania played their final group game on Sunday but must wait until Wednesday night to see if their campaign is over or not.
Fans are complaining that it’s changed the complexion of the competition.
Well, that’s the clean version. Basically everyone is moaning that it’s turned it into a boring shower of shit.
After England played out a 0-0 stalemate on Monday night against a resolute Slovakia, who had 11 men behind the ball for much of the game, the ire reached fever pitch…
4 nil-nils in last 5 nights. The new format of 16 from 24 going through having a very negative effect. Bring on the knockout stage.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 20, 2016
That was a farce of a game thanks to the new Euro 2016 format don't know why they had to change it
— Paul Ince (@PaulInce) June 20, 2016
This new format is rollocks. Slovakia haven't even tried to have a go because they'll take a point and chance going through 3rd.
— Dan Waddell (@danwaddell) June 20, 2016
This new format is a joke too. Finishing 3rd out of a 4 team group is not an achievement, and definitely should not warrant qualification..
— Matt Evans (@Matt_Evans_6) June 20, 2016
The new format of 16 going through is far too negative. Too many teams settling for the 0-0 draw 🙄
— Lewis Parish (@lewis_parish) June 20, 2016
This new format has meant a fear of losing, right? So playing for draws. Which has meant for dull football matches.
— James Dall (@JamesDall_) June 20, 2016
Uefa messing with a perfect format has predictably encouraged crap teams to be happy with playing for draws and finishing 3rd.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) June 20, 2016
Can't totally excuse #eng but UEFA's bloated format had a bearing on that game. Teams offered greater chance of reward for conservatism.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) June 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/A_W_Gordon/status/744997159158833152
This is the crappy aspect of the 24-team format and the third place possibly qualifying, teams like Slovakia have no incentive to play.
— Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) June 20, 2016
the new format really is a nonsense. Used to prefer the 16 team euros to WC as straight into top matches. Ruined by UEFA…
— David Williams (@El_Seguidor_FCB) June 20, 2016
