text: In Earlier World cups they did try a straight knockout but most people prefer the groups and i Agree. you may get the odd match with nothing to play for but in a straight knockout you get alot of poor teams playing for draws in the hope of going thru on penalties. Just look at the European Cup in the 80's and how Red Star got all the way to the final and Won by playing for draws in each round and winning on pens. The theory is the better teams in the knockout stage won't do this, but it still happens..