Bernstein proposes Wembley as final venue
So Platini wants the finals to be "spread across Europe ... with maybe one city [or stadium] hosting the climax [ie semi-finals and final]".
Yes, that could work. In fact it would be brilliant. Furthermore, it would allow the Euros to have 32, not 24, finalists. And each would host at least one game, in the finals.
Here's how it could work.
In the first round of the finals, the 32 finalists would be drawn into 16 groups, and would play two matches each, at venues to be determined by, ooh, let's say where each side played their home games.
Group winners would progress and then the first round procedure would be repeated in a second round, then a third round, by which time there would only be 4 groups, and 8 cities to host 1 finals game each.
Then yes, one predetermined city (London?) could host 3 climactic games, the semi-finals and final.
Of course, the whole finals tournament couldn't take place over just three weeks, the games and arrangements involved would mean stretching it out over, say, six months.
But it would be bloody exciting.
I think they used to call it the "European Nations Cup".
So Platini wants the finals to be "spread across Europe ... with maybe one city [or stadium] hosting the climax [ie semi-finals and final]".
Yes, that could work. In fact it would be brilliant. Furthermore, it would allow the Euros to have 32, not 24, finalists. And each would host at least one game, in the finals.
Here's how it could work.
In the first round of the finals, the 32 finalists would be drawn into 16 groups, and would play two matches each, at venues to be determined by, ooh, let's say where each side played their home games.
Group winners would progress and then the first round procedure would be repeated in a second round, then a third round, by which time there would only be 4 groups, and 8 cities to host 1 finals game each.
Then yes, one predetermined city (London?) could host 3 climactic games, the semi-finals and final.
Of course, the whole finals tournament couldn't take place over just three weeks, the games and arrangements involved would mean stretching it out over, say, six months.
But it would be bloody exciting.
I think they used to call it the "European Nations Cup".
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