France at the bottom of the hole!

The elimination of PSG in the ½ final of the Champions League put an end to the pitiful season for French clubs in the European Cup. If he took more points over the season (24 points) than the 5 other clubs involved (23.5 points for Lille, Rennes, OM, Nice and Reims), PSG, author of a successful campaign, couldn’t do it all alone. And the finding is clear. With 7.916 points (or 47.5 points divided by the number of clubs qualified for France, namely 6) in the standings, France even has its worst record in the UEFA index over the past thirteen seasons.

If Portugal remains at good length at the end of the 2020-21 season (7.532 points ahead), it will be very different from August. Indeed, France will lose the benefit of its incredible 2016-17 season (14,416 points against only 8,083 for Portugal). As a result, within 3 months, France will have only 1.199 points ahead of Portugal. But the worst is yet to come. If we only take into account the last three seasons (from 2018-19 to 2020-21), France is virtually behind Portugal for 0.635 points.

France already virtually behind Portugal!

The concern is therefore appropriate since this calculation will enter directly into account for obtaining tickets for the new formula of the Champions League, which will begin in 2024 and which will include 36 clubs. A 2.0 edition of the C1 which will allow the fifth nation of the UEFA index to count three automatically qualified plus one in the preliminary round. A godsend for the French clubs, frustrated for many seasons at having only three, or even two, qualified in the group stage of the most prestigious of European competitions.

In view of the uninspiring prospects of a new European fiasco as of next season, French clubs will have to work harder to finish ahead of their historic rivals in the index ranking. LOSC, PSG, Monaco and OL, who will already defend the colors of France in the European Cup for the 2021-22 season, now know what to expect …

Ranking of nations by the UEFA coefficient for the 2020/21 season (in brackets, the number of clubs remaining in competition and the number of clubs qualified this season for European competitions) as at 07/05/21:

-1. England 23.928 points (3/7)

-2. Spain 19.357 (1/7)

-3. Italy 16.285 (0/7)

-4. Germany 15,214 (0/7)

-5. Portugal 9,600 (0/5)

-6. Netherlands 9,200 (0/5)

-7. Scotland 8,500 (0/4)

–8. France 7.916 (0/6)

-9. Israel 7.000 (0/4)

-10. Ukraine 6.800 (0/5)

Ranking of nations by the UEFA coefficient over the last five seasons (between 2016 and 2021):

-1. Spain 100.140 points

-1. England 97,712

-3. Italy 75,438

-4. Germany 73,570

–5. France 56,081

-6. Portugal 48,549

-7. Netherlands 39,200

-8. Russia 38,382

-9. Belgium 36,500

-10. Austria 35,825