Germany forward Lukas Podolski has criticised the effects of the 24-team format UEFA have put in operation for the first time at Euro 2016.
Many teams were left to wait for days to see whether they’d qualify having completed their group, with the four highest point scoring third-placed finishers progressing to the last 16.
Despite his country having cruised through the group stages and into the quarter finals after Sunday’s convincing last 16 victory over Slovakia, Podolski sighted the uncertainty created by the format as an irritant.
“The group stage was a little bit strange because UEFA did some stupid things with the system,” Podolski told reporters after the game.
“It’s not about the smaller teams, it’s about the decisions. Some teams waited three days in the camp for a decision. You lose the first two games and you still have a chance to get through to the next round.”
“So it is a bit confused but for us it doesn’t matter. The tournament starts now.
Despite qualifying comfortably, Joachim Low’s side had failed to hit their stride in the group stages, but that changed on Sunday evening as the world champions produced a scintillating display to brush aside Slovakia.
Jerome Boateng broke the deadlock early on as he smashed home a volley from the edge of the box, Mesut Ozil then missed a penalty before Mario Gomez and Julian Draxler sealed the victory.
Germany will now face the winner of Spain and Italy’s much anticipated last 16 clash on Monday and Podolski is confident his side will be ready for the challenge.
“You have to be serious,” the former Bayern Munich and Arsenal striker continued.
“We made the first step and then we wait for Spain or Italy – it doesn’t matter who – and I hope we will beat them. Then we will be in the semi- final.”
Podolski is not the key figure he once was for Germany and his 19 minute cameo against Slovakia was in fact his first appearance of the tournament – and may well turn out to be his only.
Having been left on the bench with Podolski for their first two games, Mario Gomez has started Germany’s last two matches, scoring on both occasions to make the centre forward position his own.
Germany’s clash with Italy or Spain will take place on Saturday evening in Bordeaux.
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