The European Championship qualifiers are well upon us again as top domestic leagues throughout Europe shut down for a week.
The excitement to go and cheer on your national team is at fever pitch as you pray for all three points going into the latter stages of the group games.
However, this qualification process for Euro 2016 to be held in France has been for want of a better word rather pedestrian.
Instead of having the regular 16 teams qualify, the next Euros will see an inflated 24 teams take part – almost half of all European nations registered with UEFA.
This has meant lopsided groups- so it may be fun to see the likes of last year’s World Cup semi finalists the Netherlands in third place and six points behind their group leaders Czech Republic.
And it may be interesting to see a rising Belgium team loaded with young talent currently out in fourth place in Group B. Further more the usually dominant Germans are making do with second place behind Poland in Group D.
The truth is these nations all of whom are used to topping their groups with ease, can ease up even more.
Are the Germans really bothered that they drew 1-1 at home to Republic of Ireland or that they saw through a nervy 2-1 victory over Scotland? If they know that finishing thirdstill gives you a chance of qualification.
The better teams can, if they choose and with all intended respect due to lesser footballing nations, not come out of second gear- there are now no mad dashes to secure first place, which before this qualification process was the only guaranteed return to be playing at the Euro’s.
With added pressure for these international players to be on top form for their clubs in the Champions League, this new qualification method set out by UEFA president Michel Platini gives teams much more leverage in how to approach qualifying.
The decision from UEFA to increase the Euro’s by eight teams was made in Bordeaux seven years ago, and broken to the media by Franz Beckenbauer.
Platini had been UEFA President for less than two years when his ideas to increase the competition to 24 teams was given the green light.
However, in doing so he has questionably made the qualifying process which lasts for a whole year dull and uninspiring.
Will we, for example ever see super nations like England, France or the Netherlands not qualify again?
His decision also spelled the end for smaller nations to host the competition in the future. With so many teams (just eight short of the World Cup finals) participating it seems highly unlikely that a smaller European nation would be able to cope with the infrastructure and tournament details to host a successful competition.
Of course for the likes of Scotland, Wales and many other nations who have failed time and again to qualify for major tournaments it is good news. But one can only assume that Platini’s idea was so heavily backed by these nations because of this.
It has yet to be seen of course how this will affect the Euro competition. Though one could arguably point to the World Cup as an example.
Once that tournament increased from 24 teams to 32 the finals have never quite been the same since and you end up with many fixtures that are either only attractive to said supporters of those nations or dead rubbers.
For now the qualification process almost feels like an extended commercial break until we get the real deal, and get back to domestic soccer matters.
