A 64-team tournament has two main plus points: a more natural format, and more opportunities for emerging nations. Fifa faced criticism before the tournament, with suggestions the additional teams would not be competitive. Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Panama, Tunisia and Uzbekistan failed to pick up a point - and this summer's group stage had minimal jeopardy for the top nations. Nine of Africa's 10 countries got out of the group stage. Would the group stage not simply become a glorified pan-confederation qualifying competition for what is, essentially, a knockout tournament?