I would have been fine with 3 team (2 games each) group stage if that meant that the mini-group stage was used as a qualifier for a double-elimination playoff format. I.e., 1st place goes to winners bracket, 2nd-3rd starts in the losers bracket so everyone was guaranteed the 3 game minimum but the bonus of a couple juicy matchups early in the winners bracket a la France vs Brazil with the loser dropping down to the losers bracket the following round but still surviving at least another game.