Irish drop in Uefa rankings
Irish drop in Uefa rankings
As a result of disappointing performances by several of Ireland’s representatives in European competition last season, Irish clubs have fallen to 39th place in the newly-published Uefa co-efficients, which determine the seedings of clubs in European competition.
Shelbourne’s disastrous Champions League exit at the hands of Maltese minnows Hibernians last summer is held as the principal reason behind the fall, after St Patrick’s Athletic had acquitted themselves admirably.
St Pats, arguably the best Irish performers in continental clashes in recent years, again performed well in Europe, dumping Croatians HNK Rijeka out of the Intertoto Cup before falling to defeat to Belgian top division side AA Gent on the away goals rule.
Their elimination was particularly unlucky, as a superb 3-1 victory for Pats in their home leg against a side that boasted two Belgian internationals was not enough to turn over a first-leg deficit.
Shamrock Rovers were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Djurgardens of Sweden, while FAI Cup champions Dundalk, robbed of several of their best players after being relegated, were trounced 9-0 by another Croatian side, NK Varteks.
Irish clubs are now 39th in the list of Uefa rankings, putting them at the lower end of the Uefa scale. Spain top the co-efficients table after Real Madrid’s Champions League victory last May.
eleven-a-side
Re: Irish drop in Uefa rankings
Quote:
Originally posted by Pablo
St Pats, arguably the best Irish performers in continental clashes in recent years,
em???? 10-0 anyone?
I think not
