It’s just one more game per qualifying team.

It’s just one more game per qualifying team.
by bizdomer09 (2026-07-08 20:50:07)

In reply to: All these individual goal records are diluted posted by G.K.Chesterton

So a team that makes the finals plays 8 games instead of 7. I guess if Ford Frick hands out asterisks for 162 vs 154, you’re not alone in your thinking, but it doesn’t seem like a huge difference to me. Didn’t they score a lot more goals per game back in the 70s and earlier?

Replies:

True, but the group stage competition is also diluted. - G.K.Chesterton 2026-07-08 21:25:03
Level of competition comes into play - SixShutouts66 2026-07-08 21:17:21