So they play 36 games to eliminate the first 8 teams. Then they play 15 games to eliminate 15 teams and produce a champion. I never did like the format. The group stage is basically a glorified warm-up. A 24-team double-elimination tournament would be 47 games (4 fewer), and every one would be meaningful to both teams.
I guess the downside is there would be no 3-game guarantee. Six teams would be done after two games, although some teams are already practically eliminated after 2 games anyway, so I'm not sure it's that big a deal.
If they had 4 groups like they normally would it wouldn’t be so bad.
24 teams in a Continental Tournament is ridiculous!
UEFA has taken a lot of heat for this, as well they should.