PhillippaT

STFU. The changes of the World Cup over time ALREADY show that this IS NOT TRUE - it's only looked like being a closed shop because the number of good professional teams at the time were limited. 32 teams is now too limited for the scope of world football, just like 16, then 24 etc. were before. Is 64 too much, too soon? Yes - that I will agree with. 48 teams right now feels about right to me given the teams that aren't making it, so I'd keep this format for now, until non-European confederations can show they've got enough depth to make it worthwhile increasing.

The top 32 European teams in the Euros 2024: Spain England France Netherlands Germany Portugal Switzerland Turkey Austria Belgium Denmark Italy Romania Slovakia Slovenia Albania Croatia Czechia Hungary Poland Scotland Serbia Ukraine Greece Iceland Wales Bosnia Estonia Finland Luxembourg Sweden Norway

Don't be stupid. If 32 teams come from Europe, it'd make sense to alter the qualifying to reflect that, which would make it similar to the Euros in lineup.

Booo...

Ooh. Close.

The only reasons Curacao are in this one is because a) there are three host nations from their confederation and b) they beat Jamaica. But that doesn't mean there aren't more good teams that AREN'T at this current world cup, even with 48 teams. The problem with 32 teams is that it's now too restrictive, and becomes a 'closed-shop' fairly quickly for a couple of the confederations. Again, pretty much all the issues come back to it being changed into a 'proper' WORLD cup, not a European-centric cup like it used to be, but that's the nature of the SPORT AS IT EXISTS NOW. Is there a difference in quality between some of the Confederations? Yes - but you're never going to improve that without giving them an opportunity to do so, which means MORE competition, not less. This is a problem most other international sports WANT to have: an expanding sport with more teams and competition... It really sounds like a lot of football suporters WANT a closed-shop, even if it's detrimental to the sport as a whole... EDIT: How'd Sane miss that

Deffo a pen. Shame.

Booo... Oh well, Germany are still going to beat better teams than Curacao this tournament.

I didn't see it...

YES! TAKE THAT!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D:D

They had a shot!

I'm not using that goal against Curacao, though - that would have been a good goal against anyone...

Shame... Oh well... Could be a rugby score, this one

Ruh Roh

Looks like they heard him for once

I'll catch the replay highlights after the F1 grand Prix, but I see the BBC gave Big Harry a high score, so that's good

Imagine plugging a games console into those

This reply worked!

Did they fall down at the door after walking 1000 miles?

But no cigar. 1-1 it is. Can Scotland capitalise?

He lives in a rubbish bin (*trashcan) right?

I know, but still...

I might manage that - no chance for Australia Turkey, though.

F3ck. Damm3t.

Damn it - I guess it had to be HIM, though, right?