World Cup 2018 | 14th July | Third Place: Belgium vs England, KO 15:00 (BST)

[CityInWashingtonState]

Who are these 'best sides' and what makes you think the matches between them would be 'exciting'?

Look into USA mens college basketball.
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This issue is subjective - if you're happy with the current format and the possibility that England or Belgium would have been better off losing their final group stage match then so be it.

 

[CityInWashingtonState]

I quite like the system in place. If Germany aren't good enough to top a group of Sweden, Mexico and North Korea then they don't deserve to be in the knockouts.

But worthiness to advance - win-or-you're-out - is common to both the existing system and systems designed to protect favorites.

The worst part of the current system is placement of teams into brackets depending on performance in the group stage - creating the possibility of very unbalanced sides in the subsequent knockout brackets; not to mention the odious possibility that you may be better off losing than winning in order to land in the softer side of a bracket. This could be addressed in numerous ways - but likely won't for reasons I've already given.

 

[SpiritofBurnden]

The worst part of the current system is placement of teams into brackets depending on performance in the group stage - creating the possibility of very unbalanced sides in the subsequent knockout brackets; not to mention the odious possibility that you may be better of losing than winning in order to land in the softer side of a bracket. This could be fixed in numerous ways - but likely won't for reasons I've already given.

The draw was 'unbalanced' because some of the 'best teams' weren't good enough to finish top of their groups...

 

[BlueHammer85]

Please tell me why you personally think he was England's best player i.e. what he brought to the team

I don’t think he was for this tournament. I think that goes to Trippier or Maguire.

I said Kane is our best player and without him England would be stuffed.

 

[CityInWashingtonState]

The draw was 'unbalanced' because some of the 'best teams' weren't good enough to finish top of their groups...

Perhaps you misunderstand what I'm getting at.

It's simply this.

Different tournament formats exist that produce the best guarantee - mathematically - of balanced brackets insofar as possible. The extant cup format is far inferior in this regard.
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Look - I get that you're happy with the extant format. OK, I can't argue with that since it's subjective.

If you want to argue the mathematics of having the highest ranked teams play each other as late as possible that's a totally separate issue and one which your comments do not address; but one which is central to a format I'd like to see. Again, this is subjective and I respect your differing viewpoint.

 

[mosssideblue]

I don’t think he was for this tournament. I think that goes to Trippier or Maguire.

I said Kane is our best player and without him England would be stuffed.

So why do you think he is ? What impresses you about him?

 

[Dubai Blue]

I value seeing the best sides meet as late as possible in the tournament - creating exciting quarter final, semi final and final matches insofar as possible. The existing WC format does not cater to this goal as well as it could. In terms of seeing plucky underdogs win against supposedly better competition - yes, this WC has had a lot of that.

You're not going to win anyone over on here with that argument because the vast majority of football fans (myself included) would rather see upsets than more protection for the same old privileged few. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that upsets are what makes World Cups exciting; if the focus was 100% on ensuring that the "best" team always wins, people would lose interest very, very quickly. The upsets are why so many of us watch.

 

[CityInWashingtonState]

You're not going to win anyone over on here with that argument because the vast majority of football fans (myself included) would rather see upsets than more protection for the same old privileged few. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that upsets are what makes World Cups exciting; if the focus was 100% on ensuring that the "best" team always wins, people would lose interest very, very quickly. The upsets are why so many of us watch.

And yet, USA college basketball is exciting - for those that follow the sport - with numerous upsets along the way.

I'd be happy with a C/L style system - seeding for a group stage followed by a draw w/ rules preventing certain matchups (maybe simply a rule that you can't face anyone in your group stage during the first knockout round) in the first round of the knockouts. This would largely eliminate my dissatisfaction with the current format.

But yes, I agree - few forum posters (maybe no one but me, LOL) - have expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo.

 

[Dubai Blue]

And yet, USA college basketball is exciting - for those that follow the sport - with numerous upsets along the way.

I'd be happy with a C/L style system - seeding for a group stage followed by a draw w/ rules preventing certain matchups (maybe simply a rule that you can't face anyone in your group stage during the first knockout round) in the first round of the knockouts. This would largely eliminate my dissatisfaction with the current format.

But yes, I agree - few forum posters (maybe no one but me, LOL) - have expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Logistically, it isn't possible to have a draw. The 2nd round starts immediately after the groups finish. That's why the format is as it is.

 

[CityInWashingtonState]

Logistically, it isn't possible to have a draw. The 2nd round starts immediately after the groups finish. That's why the format is as it is.

Huh?

I don't see where the non-possibility of a draw enters into any of this.

The C/L format - as I've mentioned above - caters to a group stage with draws as a possible outcome while avoiding the bulk of the extant W/C format problems.