GENEVA (AP) – Every fourth summer, football lovers tune in to what many see as the tournament for the purists on the global calendar.
The European Championship is often more fun than the World Cup, where the first-round group stage has more mismatches and can be too cautiously played.
The UEFA-organized tournament enjoys a reputation for hitting higher standards from first kick-off with no weak spots in the lineup.
Now UEFA has added to the perfect 16-team format, and a 24-nation Euro 2016 will stretch to 51 matches over 31 midsummer days in France.
Could 20 more matches mean less must-see action as top teams are kept apart for longer? Maybe.