New Rules And Even A Smoggy Couldn't Fail!
By Nu Mad
Updated Sunday, 29th June 2008
The European Championship looks certain to be expanded from 16 to 24 teams after the proposal won universal support from UEFA's 53 member countries.
And, who knows, even "Wally With The Brolly" Steve McClaren could have got us to Euro 2008 on those rules!
A final decision will be taken by UEFA's executive committee in September but there was no opposition to the plan when it was raised at a meeting of association presidents and general secretaries in Vienna on Saturday.
The change would come into force for Euro 2016 and was originally put forward by the Scottish FA last year. Their chief executive Gordon Smith said he was delighted by the response.
Smith said: "It's something UEFA have seen no real disadvantage to - it will only means a few extra days of the tournament and there is no down side in terms of loss of revenue.
"The feeling in the meeting was everyone else was in favour as well. There's an appetite for it, everyone appreciated the advantages and no one spoke against it.
"It will make the qualifying competition more attractive as more teams come into the mix and that will keep the group alive longer.
"We just missed out for this tournament behind Italy and France but under the proposed new regulations we would have qualified."
An Italian Football Federation spokesman said: "It was 100%, it will happen for 2016 and it will boost the smaller nations."
That's the way to do it ... we don't qualify ... so change the rules!
The European Championship finals were between just four teams from 1960 until 1976, and that rose to eight teams in 1980. The first 16-team finals were at Euro '96 in England.
Talking about Steve McClaren, he enjoyed a winning debut as FC Twente coach as his new charges beat a Hengelo select XI 5-0 in a pre-season friendly.
Apparently it didn't rain, so he didn't need his brolly.
