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The question is that a qualifying campaign will never tell you where the quality is going to come from in the finals. France and Italy were disappointments, while who could have predicted the excitement Turkey brought? These things can only happen if you give teams the chance. Also, often what's dull to neutrals doesn't have to be lacking emotion for those involved. I bet the Romanians were following every kick.

The qualifying campaings could be made shorter this way. With 32 qualifiers for the euros you could need smaller groups and less games.

As for watching a 16-team tournament, nothing easier: skip the group phase and switch on at the second round. Or pick and choose your games.

It's a matter of judgement, I know. But the guys who organise the party want to admit more people. I say welcome.

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But on that basis you might as well invite every country in case there's a slim chance that one of them might turn out to be surprisingly good. I bet most Romanians fell asleep during their game with France.

Incidentally, the guys who organise the party have extended it because it brings in more money, and because the person currently running it had to repay the voters who put him in charge in the first place.

I can't skip the group phase because it's an integral part of the tournament. I just don't want more meaningless games.

I say more quality less quantity.

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