Greece’s goals for the 2018/19 UEFA Country Coefficient Rankings
The UEFA season is underway as the qualifying playoffs of the UEFA Champions & Europa Leagues are set to begin this week. Greece began the season with five representatives and continue with just three teams, AEK, PAOK, and Olympiacos. AGONAsport' Sarantos Kaperonis breaks down what is the ultimate goal finish for Greece in this year’s UEFA Rankings and what that means for the future of Greek football in Europe.
The reshaping of the UEFA Champions and Europa League’s allocation of teams from each association began this season, and as any other year, 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 benefits 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 15th in the UEFA Association's rankings meaning that this year’s 2018/19 Greek SuperLeague & Cup will yield 2 teams in next year’s 2019/20 UEFA Champions League and three teams in next year’s 2019/20 UEFA Europa League. The full breakdown of where these respective teams will begin their European campaigns next season is explained here.
Currently, Greece currently sit 14th in the 2018/19 UEFA rankings with 24.100 points. After a poor start to the season with the eliminations of both Atromitos and Asteras Tripolis (Greece had dropped to 17th), a good string of results in the third qualifying round from AEK, PAOK, and Olympiacos saw Greece move back up to 14th.
The realistic goal for Greece in this year’s UEFA Rankings is 12th place and they will fight with Denmark (12th with 25.650), the Netherlands (13th with 25.133), Croatia (15th with 23.750), the Czech Republic (16th with 23.675), and Switzerland (17th with 23.600) for this ranking. However, 11th place cannot be ruled out as Austria sit on 26.250 points.
At a bare minimum, Greece must finish in 15th to keep five representatives in Europe (2 Champions League, 3 Europa League) or else one Champions League representative will be lost, resulting in just four Greek teams in UEFA's competitions (1 Champions League, 3 Europa League). Follow Greece's fight in the coefficient rankings here.
Greece (AEK, PAOK, Olympiacos), Denmark (Brondby, Kobenhavn, Midtjalland), and Switzerland (Basel, Young Boys, Zurich) are the only nations left with three active teams in UEFA's competitions for this season, while the Czech Republic has four teams (Slavia Prague, V. Plzen, Sigma Olomouc, Jablonec). Both Austria (FC Salzburg, Rapid Wien) and the Netherlands (Ajax, PSV) have two active teams while Croatia only has one (Dinamo Zagreb).
Each of these nations began with five representatives in this year’s UEFA season (except for Denmark and Croatia), meaning their total points accumulation will be divided by 5 (Denmark and Croatia 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 2018/19 UEFA season is to finish 12th and for optimistic fans, 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 for the 2020/21 UEFA season (four total representatives as opposed to five). What each of these rankings mean is explained in depth below.
A reminder, Greece’s final placement in this year’s 2018/19 UEFA season will determine who from the 2019/20 SuperLeague season (next year) will represent Greece in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions & Europa League (two years from now). A long time away, 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 2019/20 Superleague & Cup representatives which will represent Greece in the 2020/21 UEFA season.
Greece’s realistic goal for the 2018/19 UEFA season? 12th place
- 2019/20 Superleague champion: UCL playoff qualifying round
- 2019/20 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 Cup Champion: UEL group stages
- 2019/20 Superleague 3rd place: UEL third qualifying round
- 2019/20 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. This favorable position assures Greece two teams in the Europa League group stages independent of what happens in qualifying.
Greece’s optimistic goal for the 2018/19 UEFA season? 11th place
- 2019/20 Superleague champion: UCL playoff qualifying round**
- 2019/20 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 Cup Champion: UEL group stages
- 2019/20 Superleague 3rd place: UEL third qualifying round
- 2019/20 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 2018/19 UEFA season? 13th & 14th place
- 2019/20 Superleague champion: UCL third qualifying round
- 2019/20 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
- 2019/20 Superleague 3rd place: UEL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 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, along with the SuperLeague's 4th placed team. In this scenario, Greece is not assured a representative in the Champions or Europa League group stages.
Greece’s ABSOLUTE minimum goal for the 2018/19 UEFA season? 15th place
- 2019/20 Superleague champion: UCL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 Superleague runner-up: UCL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
- 2019/20 Superleague 3rd place: UEL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 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 (begin in 2nd qualifying round rather than 3rd qualifying round).
Greece’s worst case scenario for the 2018/19 UEFA season? 16th place & below
- 2019/20 Superleague champion: UCL second qualifying round
- 2019/20Cup Champion: UEL third qualifying round
- 2019/20 Superleague runner-up: UEL second qualifying round
- 2019/20 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.
