I agree with the solution of having the cup runner up play but the logic you used is no more suited for the cup as it is for the league. The second best team is not guaranteed to be the other team in the finals. Imagine if the 2nd best team played the eventual champion in the first round?
The thing is that the pool for runner-up in the cup is much bigger, includes everyone. In the final of the Cup teams can come from anywhere, while the runner-up of the league comes from a pool that doesn't even include all teams in that league, because of the conference format of the playoffs.
To the others: Anyway, I don't think a country should be punished for having the same team winning both tournaments. So we definitely should have 2 teams for each country. Why should Italy have an advantage over Portugal, Brasil, USA and Canada (for example)? No, does not make sense. Two teams per country is a must. Cup runner-up is simply the best solution, but the important thing is that each country has 2 spots.
Last edited by raonne at 8/11/2008 9:20:27 AM