Greece’s goals for this year’s UEFA Rankings
Greece’s goals for this year’s UEFA Rankings
The UEFA season is well in effect with the second round of group stage matches in the UEFA Champions & Europa Leagues underway. Greece continues with two representatives, Olympiacos and AEK, and AGONAsport.com breaks down what is the ultimate goal finish for Greece in this year’s UEFA Rankings.
The reshaping of the UEFA Champions and Europa League’s allocation of teams from each association will begin next season, however this year’s results for the Greek teams will play a vital role for the future of Greek football in Europe. The re-allocation of teams benefit the stronger associations, while weaker associations (like Greece) will have a more difficult task of qualifying for the Champions & Europa League group stages in the future. More on that here.
Last season, Greece finished 14th in the UEFA Association's rankings meaning that this year’s 2017/18 Greek SuperLeague & Cup will yield 2 teams in next year’s 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and three teams in next year’s 2018/19 UEFA Europa League. The full breakdown of where these respective teams will begin their European campaigns next season is explained here.
Currently, Greece sit 12th in the UEFA rankings for this season with 27.000 points, a favorable position to the say the least. The realistic goal for Greece in this year’s UEFA Rankings is 12th and they will fight with Austria (26.850), Czech Republic (26.575), and Switzerland (25.200) for this ranking. However, 11th place cannot be ruled out as the Netherlands sit on 28.549 points. Follow Greece's fight in the coefficient rankings here.
Greece (Olympiacos, AEK), Netherlands (Feyenoord, Vitesse), and Austria (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria Wien) are left with two teams each in the Champions/Europa League group stages while the Czech Republic (Slavia Prague, V. Plzen, Vitalijs) and Switzerland (Basel, Young Boys, Lugano) each have three representatives competing. Each of these nations began with five representatives in this year’s UEFA season (except for Austria), meaning their total points accumulation will be divided by 5 (Austria by 4) to yield this year’s association coefficient total. This year’s coefficient will be added to that of the previous four seasons to get the final coefficient rankings for each nation. The complete breakdown of the coefficient calculations explained here.
Although this can be a confusing concept to grasp, this is what you need to know: Greece’s realistic goal for the season is to finish 12th and if you are very optimistic, 11th. If Greece do not manage to scramble 12th place, it is imperative that Greece finish 13th-15th to keep five representatives in Europe. If Greece finish 16th and below, the second Champions League representative will be removed and Greece will have one team in the Champions League and three in the Europa League. What each of these rankings mean is explained in depth below.
A reminder, Greece’s final placement in this year’s 2017/18 UEFA season will determine who from the 2018/19 SuperLeague season will represent Greece in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions & Europa League. A long time a way, but not as far as one might think.
Below is the breakdown of Greece's goals for this UEFA season and what each position means for the 2018/19 Superleague & Cup representatives for the 2019/20 UEFA season.
Greece’s realistic goal for the 2017/18 UEFA season? 12th place
- 2018/19 Superleague champion: UCL playoff qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Cup Champion: UEL group stages
- 2018/19 Superleague 3rd place: UEL third qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 4th place: UEL second qualifying round
In this scenario, Greece's champion will begin in the Champions League playoff qualifying round as opposed to the 3rd qualifying round and will have at minimum, a guaranteed place in the Europa League group stages. Also, the Greek Cup champion will be granted an automatic place in the Europa League group stages while the Superleague's 3rd placed team will begin in the Europa League 3rd qualifying round and not the second qualifying round.
Greece’s optimistic goal for the 2017/18 UEFA season? 11th place
- 2018/19 Superleague champion: UCL playoff qualifying round**
- 2018/19 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Cup Champion: UEL group stages
- 2018/19 Superleague 3rd place: UEL third qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 4th place: UEL second qualifying round
**Eleventh place is identical to a 12th place finish with one exception. If the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League winner has already secured a place in the 2019/20 Champions League group stages via their domestic placement, then the Superleague champion will be granted an automatic place in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage.
Greece’s minimum goal for the 2017/18 UEFA season? 13th & 14th place
- 2018/19 Superleague champion: UCL third qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 3rd place: UEL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 4th place: UEL second qualifying round
Twelfth place has many differences with that of a 13th and 14th place finish. If Greece finish 13th or 14th, the SuperLeague champion will begin in the Champions League 3rd qualifying round (opposed to playoffs), while the Cup champion will lose their automatic place in the Europa League group stages and will need to go through two rounds of qualifying. Finally, the Superleague 3rd placed team will begin their season very early in Europe, in the Europa League 2nd qualifying round.
Greece’s ABSOLUTE minimum goal for the 2017/18 UEFA season? 15th place
- 2018/19 Superleague champion: UCL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 3rd place: UEL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 4th place: UEL second qualifying round
Fifteenth is the absolute minimum goal for Greece to keep five representatives in Europe, two in the Champions League and three in the Europa League. If Greece fall to 15th, the only difference between 13th/14th place is that the Superleague champion will need to go through THREE qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League group stages.
Greece’s worst case scenario for the 2017/18 UEFA season? 16th place & below
- 2018/19 Superleague champion: UCL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague runner-up: UEL second qualifying round
- 2018/19 Superleague 3rd place: UEL first qualifying round
This scenario sees Greece lose their second Champions League representative. In this case, Greece will have three teams in the Europa League with the Superleague's 3rd placed team beginning their season in late JUNE in the Europe League FIRST qualifying round and the Superleague runner-up shortly after, in the Europa League 2nd qualifying round.
Confused yet? If so, please feel to ask us any questions at agoansport@gmail.com or message us directly on Facebook at AGONAsport Online.
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