Arse

The group stage is such a slog, isn't it. Usually, only the last game in the group means anything, effectively making the last group game a knockout game.

I'd rather see a 32-team tournament, with 16 seeds, and the first knockout stage taking place over 4 days. 4 games a day for 4 days, and by the end of that process, you end up with 16 teams, another 4 days for 8 games, and it's knockout sudden death all the way through.

It would be easier, less painful, and less boring, to qualify, and the tournament itself would be shockingly exciting from the word go. England, if seeded, would not be drawn against France or Italy, but would risk exposing their limitations in front of the world by losing to an unseeded side. Or they could be knocked out by France in the second round.

FIFA and UEFA, it seems to me, are hopelessly corrupted through having their snouts in the money trough for too long. Qualifying groups are a load of arse.