Soccer. Why Monaco’s exit is bad news for France’s UEFA Index

Beaten 3-2 by PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday August 9, Monaco said goodbye to any hope of playing in the group stage of the Champions League. France will therefore only have two representatives in the main competition: PSG and OM.

An elimination even before the play-offs which is bad timing and does not suit French football as a whole, while this season promises to be crucial to maintain its 5th place in the general classification of the UEFA index.

Since if currently France, because of its 5th rank, has two directly qualifying places for the group phase and a place for the 3rd preliminary round, the overhaul of the competition gave a glimpse of a brighter future for French clubs. On the horizon of the 2024-2025 season, the 5th championship in the UEFA index will therefore benefit from three qualifying places for the group stage and a fourth place for the preliminary round.

A major challenge for the 2024-2025 season

However, long comfortably installed in 5th position, France has seen its margin melt and is now closely followed by the Netherlands and Portugal. In the worst case scenario, it would therefore find itself seventh at the end of the current exercise and would only have one club qualified directly for the group stage in 2024-2025. The vice-champion of France should therefore go through the preliminary round.

A scenario that must be avoided at all costs, and the defeat of Monaco on Tuesday therefore does not help to take the maximum points. Especially since losing against a Dutch team, it suits the Netherlands. Benfica having also qualified for the play-offs, Portugal continue to put pressure on French football as well.