With the Round of 16 well and truly underway, the business end of Euro 2016 is fast approaching, but has the new format been a success so far?
Take a look at the likes of Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales, Iceland, and Hungary and see how far their Euro 2016 adventure has taken them. The new format has added this element to what was always considered to be arguably the best summer football tournament.
It has been hugely satisfying and refreshing to see the likes of Hungary and Wales top their groups which were by no means easy and Iceland, Ireland and Northern Ireland all defying the odds and making it through to the round of 16. However, although this aspect has certainly reinvigorated the tournament, as this year’s Euro format is new it must be improved.
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The brackets for the round of 16 are quite frankly appalling. Upon looking at the two brackets, I was left with one conclusion. It was essentially as if the Euro had been broken down into two separate tournaments, one with second tier teams and the other with traditional heavy weights and serial trophy-winners.
There is no greater illustration of this than the fact that the bottom half of the bracket containing Germany, Spain, France, Italy and England have 11 World Cups and nine European Championships. The teams in the top half combine for no less than zero title wins. Surely setting up the knockout stages in this way is quite strange.
After all, the draw has denied us an opportunity to witness a final between two genuine pre-tournament favorites as all of them are locked together in one bracket and will inevitably knock one another out. However also important to note, is the effect on the matches themselves. Due to the lopsidedness of the brackets it almost feels as if everyone is being denied that little extra bit of satisfaction derived after watching a game.
Sure it will be exhilarating watching Spain take on Italy in what will inevitably be an extremely tactical affair, but had we had more heavyweights on the others side, surely there would have been more equilibrium in the draw and probably an increase in quality too.
The Wales, Northern Ireland game for example was excruciating to watch and saw two workmanlike sides battling for supremacy – what a snooze fest it was. It would struggle to be anything as boring as Portugal vs. Croatia however. The fact that the game’s first shot on target came in the 117th minute certainly vindicates that opinion. Two good teams cancelling each other out until Ricardo Quaresma’s goal knocked out a teary-eyed Luka Modric and co.
The main problem with the format however, is what it invites really. The negativity displayed throughout this tournament has been widespread and has literally asphyxiated the quality out of a tournament which should be a festival of goals and a continuation of drama. Portugal, a team that is rather average but is elevated by a player considered by many to be the best of this generation in Cristiano Ronaldo drew three times and found themselves in the knockout rounds , on the easier side of the draw (after knocking out Croatia) genuinely believe they can go and win it.
The idea of playing 36 games in order to eliminate just 8 teams was also ludicrous in the extreme. Not only did it invite caution and playing for points rather than wins however. Perhaps the worst aspect about the new format is the the top four third place teams advancing to the knockouts. Teams playing after other third placed rivals could then plan and know what was required for the round of 16 with the teams who already played powerless to prevent them.
Although indeed, the format has brought something new it must be looked at by UEFA because it simply cannot be like this at the next Euros. Maybe the draw for the knockouts could be performed randomly from now on. The brackets for the knockout games has essentially told the likes of England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France ‘There is one spot for all of you to battle to get into the final’ when there is basically a free pass on the other half of the bracket.
Had say, two of the aforementioned European giants been on the other side it would have made for a more interesting, competitive and engaging knockout phase. Instead we await the surprise finalist from the top half of the bracket and contemplate what a tournament it could have been, had the top teams been distributed more evenly. The minnows and second tier teams will not care one bit. They are using the flaws in the tournament to create a pathway to the promise land. The land where opportunities are created and glory may be grasped.
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