The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate that it is possible to have more excitement and more interesting games, without increasing the number of games for the future European Champion.
A team to be European Champion would have to dispute 8
matches. Just one more than the current
reality.
This new format would allow each team, who pass the
first phase, to play at least 6 matches before leaving the Euro. Instead to the
current situation, a team that manages to pass the first phase can play only
one game more. This would mean that the Euro would have more television audiences,
since each team would stay longer in the competition (television rights
increase also). We will be able to watch more competitive games.
This new format has two group stages before the
semi-finals.
The only change to the current format lies in round of
16, which will be replaced by a second group stage, which will qualify the four
teams to compete in the semi-finals.
The winning teams from this second group stage goes to
the semi-finals.
All Euro can be organized by a single country.
However, it can be split between two countries, with one organizing the first
group stage and the other the second group stage. They can then split the
semi-finals and final between them.
This new format would be fairer to find the best teams
to dispute the semi finals.
Another change we are proposing is that the first
tie-breaking criterion in the group stages is the difference between goals scored
and conceded, and then the direct confrontation between the teams. If we are in
a group stage where everyone plays with everyone, it should be the overall
result of those matches that will determine the tiebreaker.
