We can’t lose drama of group stage finale

THE past week has showcased the best of the World Cup. Enthralling and dramatic, the final round of group stage games delivered everything you would want. FIFA took some criticism when they enlarged the tournament to 32 teams for France 1998 but that expansion allowed for greater reach around the world.

Watching Japan and Australia upset the odds this past week, who could complain about that kind of inclusivity? It’s made the World Cup richer.

Yet there’s always a sense that FIFA like to tinker a little too much. I can understand the move to expand the next World Cup further to 48 teams.

For one thing, it will give Scotland a better chance to be involved in 2026 when the competition is staged in Canada, the USA and Mexico. It will also bring more of the diversity that has made the current tournament so great.

Questions surrounding a dilution of quality are valid but I’d be more concerned about the plan to change the format that has worked so well in Qatar.

The 32-team tournament allows for a neat eight groups of four with the top two from each qualifying for the last 16.

Expanding to 48 has raised the possibility of three-team sections which would mean an end to the spectacle of the final round of games kicking off at the same time amid high jeopardy.

Think of all the excitement we have seen over the past number of days. I hope they find a way to preserve that.

So many of the so-called smaller nations have been been punching above their weight in Qatar. The passion and motivation has been incredible and only a World Cup can drag out the level of performances we’ve seen from some of these nations.

Japan have been all-in and committed and had already pulled off a stunning result against Germany before they beat Spain to qualify ahead of Hansi Flick’s team on Thursday.

Australia have also shown what you can do when you have that spirit, are well organised and together. Denmark and Tunisia are ranked higher but the Aussies beat both to progress from a group nobody thought they could navigate.

It’s brilliant to see. As much as we all want to see the bigger nations progress, these upsets make a tournament great.

Germany’s plight sums up the importance of the first game. They lost to Japan, then drew the middle game with Spain and beat Costa Rica.

That gave them an identical points total but the difference is Spain hit the ground running, they absolutely wiped the floor with Costa Rica and that’s ultimately what carried them through.

Qatar 2022 has been everything we’d want it to be and probably a bit more. It’s poised brilliantly and there are a lot of tasty games in this round of 16.

On Friday you saw the frustration of Uruguay but while you can talk about decisions the bottom line is that you make your own fortune — the teams who deserve to go through generally advance.

Those fine margins, be it refereeing decisions or goal difference, will count in a four-team group.

At one stage on Thursday both Germany and Spain were out. That would have been unimaginable.

Those third games have brought real drama and it’s been great to watch.

I expected Germany to do much better. And to go through two consecutive World Cups without making the knockout stages will prompt a big inquest.

They are hosting the Euros in less than two years’ time and there will be pressure on the players and Flick, a man I still regard as a good manager. His team had the potential to grow into the tournament but they denied themselves that chance.

I was less surprised to see Belgium go out. They may still be ranked second in the world but there has been an inevitability about their decline.

France and England are both in action today and the holders retain that X-factor at the top end of the pitch.

The French squad has been damaged by injuries but they have a really strong starting XI, with Kylian Mbappe posturing to be the star of this tournament.

They have to be seen as serious contenders but I do think Poland still have a performance in them. They did just enough to get through but I think they have more to give and with Robert Lewandowski now off the mark at a World Cup, it will require France to reach their level.

I’m quite enjoying England. I have watched all three of their games and felt the fall-out from the draw in the second game against the USA was just as much an overreaction as the praise they received for beating Iran in the first.

I quite like the fact Gareth Southgate and his players have managed to shut all that out.

There is an efficiency about England. Because they have the attacking players to be exciting and dynamic, the criticism is ten-fold when a result goes against them.

They’re a bit like Brazil in that for all the talent at their disposal, they have three really industrial midfield players.

That suits them. The strength of Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice in the middle of the pitch — those three are never going to get mugged off.

Gareth probably thinks his back four and goalkeeper need that protection if they are to go far in the tournament.

They haven’t really been tested defensively. The USA breached them a few times and with better finishing probably would have won that game.

England might not be the exciting team so many want them to be but Gareth hasn’t pandered to those who say he needs to flood his team with attackers.

With Harry Kane at the top end of the pitch supported by the likes of Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford, they carry plenty of threat and I would expect them to beat Senegal this evening.

Brazil are the team to beat at the moment, simply because of their attacking options which must be the envy of every other nation.

Given the number of changes made by coach Tite, I wouldn’t read too much into the defeat to Cameroon on Friday. South Korea will struggle to contain them tomorrow.

Neymar has been sidelined but while he is the talismanic player for Brazil he has an unbelievable supporting cast. Even in his absence the likes of Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli or Manchester United’s Antony are seen as reserves behind Raphinha, Vinicius Jr and Richarlison.

Could France entertain the prospect of winning this tournament without Mbappe? England without Kane? Or Argentina without Lionel Messi?

I’m not sure any of them could.