Now that all teams from both leagues are done, I thought it would be interesting to have a look at Uefa's 5-year league ranking. This ranking determines the amount of spots a country gets in Champions League and Uefa Cup. But first things first... How the ranking is calculated The basis for the UEFA rankings is the performance of teams in the European Cups during a five year period. During that period each team gets two points for a win and one point for a draw. From 1999 on these points are halved for qualification matches: one point for a win and half a point for a draw. One bonus point is allocated for reaching the quarter final, the semi final and the final. Reaching the first round of the Champions League yields one bonus point. The so-called UEFA coefficients are calculated by taking an average, based on the total number of points divided by the total number of teams of each country. The UEFA country ranking is computed by the sum of 5 coefficients in the last 5 years. To determine the participants in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup the last year ranking is used, because each country should know at the start of the season how many places it disposes. Quick Recap: - 2 points for win, 1 point for draw. - 1 point for win, 1/2 point for draw if the tournament is in its qualifying stage. - 1 bonus point for reaching the quarter final, the semi final, final, and first round of the Champions League. - No points are given for the Intertoto Cup Situation for 2003/2004 European Competitions UEFA Country Ranking 2002 Why is the 2002 ranking used you ask? Remember >>> To determine the participants in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup the last year ranking is used, because each country should know at the start of the season how many places it disposes. The T-Mobile Bundesliga is ranked 15th, with a 5-year coefficient total of 23.250. The NLA is ranked 16th, with a 5-year coefficient total of 22.625. Up until position 15, a country gets 2 (or more) CL spots - meaning that Austria will have 2 CL spots in the 2003/2004 Champions League. The NLA will continue to have one. Situation for 2004/2005 European Competitions This is where things change. With the 2002/2003 country coefficients things look completely different for the UEFA Country Ranking 2003 The T-Mobile Bundesliga slips to 16th, losing a CL spot - while the NLA moves up to 13th, gaining a CL spot.
Thanks for sorting all this out. It will change if the rumored changes to the CL happen, but we can go with what we have. Will the LNA keep its two UEFA Cup spots also? Or do they loose one in favor of gaining a CL spot? Thanks.
What rumored changes are you talking about? To answer your question, - No, the NLA will loose one Uefa Cup spot in favor of the CL spot.
There was talk of reducing the number of games by making it into a knockout tournament, and possibly reducing the number of teams. The complaints are coming from those teams whose leagues play about 40 games, plus their League and National Cup games, then adding on the UEFA Games. I don't know if it will happen, personally I think the G-14 are a bunch of spoiled babies.
I seriously doubt that will happen. Less games means less money. The G-14 already complained about the elimination of the 2nd group stage for next season. I agree 100%
It looks like these 4 teams will represent Switzerland in this summer's European Competitions: - Grasshoppers - FC Basel - Xamax Neuchatel - BSC Young Boys Unless of course, Servette somehow manages to catch YB. I personally would like to see Servette instead of YB, mainly because of the Stade de Geneve. YB's stadium, the Neufeld, is not adequate for European games and only has a capacity of 4,000 for International games. YB most likely would have to play at the St. Jakobs Park. Currently staring at Intertoto Cup spots are the following two teams: - Servette - FC Zurich
I thought only four spots were available. I know that two teams get Intertoto Spots, I thought that the CL spot goes to the winner, and the next two get UEFA Cup spots. Where is the 4th one from. I would love Servette to catch YB/Xamax but if they don't start to score goals, they will just draw the remaining of their matches. It wont give them enought points. They do have the situiation the next two weekends though to make a huge jump in the standings.
- Champion (CL) - 2nd (UC) - 3rd (UC) - Cupwinner (UC) Since Basel will qualify for Europe through the league, Xamax has already qualified as a cup finalist. Looks like I might have underestimated Servette. They beat Thun 3-1 today and are now only 3 points behind Young Boys. YB however has a game in hand.
Finally Servette beat someone. Servette has an advantage over the next game. They have Thun, while Xamax and YB have much more difficult games, great for the confidence, but not trully telling.