Everton to miss out on Euro seeding
03/06/05
Everton now know that they face a tough task to qualify for the
lucrative Champions League group stages after it has emerged that
they will not be seeded for the third qualifying draw in Nyon,
Switzerland on July 29.
Everton now know that they face a tough task to qualify for the
lucrative Champions League group stages after it has emerged that
they will not be seeded for the third qualifying draw in Nyon,
Switzerland on July 29.
The Merseysiders, back in Europe for the first time in 10 years,
feared this would be the case and they are now awaiting UEFA
confirmation of the fact.
But with all Europe's leagues now completed, Everton know they do
not have a large enough coefficient to take a seeded place, and
they would find themselves even below Millwall, who would have a
better ranking because they were in the UEFA Cup last season.
Everton face the prospect of being paired with Inter Milan,
Sporting Lisbon, Ajax and Monaco and there is also the possibility
of a 'Battle of Britain' if they are pulled out of the hat with
Scottish seeds Rangers or Celtic, if the latter get through their
second qualifying round.
Formal clarification is still yet to arrive from UEFA but Everton
head of communications, Ian Ross, said: "As we have not been
involved in Europe for the past five seasons we hold no UEFA team
ranking and therefore take the England ranking into the Champions
League for seeding purposes."
"The current seeding list is worked out on the basis that teams
such as Anderlecht, Locomotive Moscow, Dinamo Kiev and Celtic all
progress through the second qualifying round.
"But even if that did not prove to be the case the ranking for
Everton is still too low to give us a seeded place, which is an
extremely unusual situation for an English team to be in."
Everton cannot be drawn against Manchester United, also in the
third qualifier, because although the Old Trafford club are seeded
they cannot face a team from their own country.
Everton Vs Inter Milan? Adriano to score a double hat trick home
and away? I want!!! 
