In the early years of the European Cup, there were only 4 teams participating, so it didn't matter what the group was, it was a direct semi-final and then a final. In the 1980 European Championship, the expansion was expanded to 8 teams, and there was a group stage, but there were only two groups. The 1996 European Championship was an epoch-making tournament, with the expansion of the army to 16 teams and the increase in the number of groups to four. In 2016, the European Championship was expanded again, that is, it remained on the current scale, with 24 teams and 6 groups.
So far, the European Cup has been held three times in six groups. Although many fans scoffed at the expansion of the tournament, believing that it ruined the texture of the top football competition and allowed many teams with weak strength to break through. However, whether it is commercial considerations or competitive aspects, the expansion of the army will inject new vitality and break the inherent pattern and order. The more teams participate, the more diverse the knockout matchups will be, which will provide more possibilities for the event.
In addition, for those teams that have the strength to win the championship, the expansion of the army will definitely make it more difficult to win the championship, after all, the number of games has increased, and there are more variables, and now, the team needs to play 7 games to win the championship, which is the same as the World Cup. Such a champion naturally has a higher gold content. Different groups mean different routes, and different divisions after qualifying, so from the moment the draw ends, the preparation begins.
When it comes to group draws, there are actually many stories, for example, the group of death is always the most eye-catching topic in the draw stage. In almost every European Cup, there will be a group of death, take Euro 2024 as an example, although the final trend of Group B is disappointing, but the configuration of this group, on the surface, can indeed be defined as the group of death, Spain, Italy, Croatia are all top ten teams in the world, Albania's performance in the European preliminary round is also eye-catching.
The topic we are talking about today has an intersection with the group of death. There is one team that has been placed in Group F each of the three European Championships since the European Championship was expanded to six groups. Fate has come to this, and it is wonderful.
Portugal.
In this European Cup, Portugal and the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Georgia are divided into Group F, which is not a group of death, and Portugal still has a relatively large advantage in strength. Indeed, Portugal locked up the top spot in the group after two rounds, and even had the capital to release Georgia in the final round. However, in the 2021 Euro Cup, Group F, where Portugal is located, is definitely one of the best groups of death in the history of the European Cup, and Portugal's three opponents are France, Germany, and Hungary.
So, do you remember the 2016 Euro Cup, Portugal achieved the championship and won the championship, which group was it in before? Or Group F. The strength of that group was relatively mediocre, Hungary, Austria, and Iceland could only be regarded as second- or even third-rate teams at the time, but even so, Portugal stumbled, drawing all three games and almost failing to qualify. However, after breaking through the group, Portugal played better and better, and finally won the championship.
In fact, the grouping group has no extended significance, it is just the result of chance. However, of the 6 groups, Group F is the latest in terms of order, and it feels a little marginalized. In fact, this is also a portrayal of Portugal's position among the leading groups in European football. In terms of strength, Portugal is certainly a top team, but in the top ranks, they are indeed on the lower side. Therefore, since the beginning of the new century, Portugal has been a candidate to win every European Cup, but in terms of popularity, they are not ranked in the top three.
I don't know what the final result of Portugal, which once again emerged from Group F, in this European Cup. Will 2016 be replicated?