Your statement looks especially interesting against the background of the fact that there will be no reigning European champions, the Italian team, at this World Cup.
By the way, today Roberto Baggio spoke on this topic, saying that such a format is insane and the European champion should automatically qualify for the World Championship. I tend to agree with him, there is 100 percent logic in this.
I agree that the European champion and other continents champions should directly go to world championship, but at the same time do we really want a team that was good enough to win Europe, but then became not so good and just be there for everyone to beat them?
I want them to fight for it and earn it, otherwise what is the point of it? This is why I both agree and disagree, I agree that one achievement should be rewarded, but I think maybe something other than entry to WC right away? Maybe something else, like maybe easier path to WC? Or better things for next Europe one? I do not know, but direct entry to WC shouldn't be it, because one team could get worse between Europe win to WC entry.
Theoretically, we can say that these are two different tournaments, so it is normal that the champion of one tournament may not make it to the final part of another. But in fact, there is such a thing as status, and when the champion of the strongest region in the world is absent at the World Cup, this hits the prestige of the tournament and, in fact, it can hardly be called world.