Lukas Podolski has blasted UEFA for their alteration of the European Championships format.

This year, 24 teams were given the chance to qualify for the Euro2016 finals, with four of the six third-placed sides making it through to the Round of 16 alongside the top two from each group.

In 2012, there were just 16 teams involved with the best two from each group moving to the quarter-finals, and Germany forward Podolski can't understand why it has been changed.

"The group stage was a little bit strange, because UEFA did some stupid things with the system," Podolski told reporters in France.

"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."

Reigning world champions Germany next meet Italy in the final eight in Bordeaux on Saturday.