Marc
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May 2005
FOOTBALL: REDS GIVEN EUROPEAN CUP LIFELINE
By David Maddock
LIVERPOOL were last night sensationally thrown a Champions League lifeline.
UEFA confirmed that if they beat Milan in the final later this month but fail to finish in the top four of the Premiership, then they will seriously discuss the possibility of offering them a place in next season's draw.
Anfield officials had feared that their prospects of joining Europe's elite next season had virtually gone after the FA decided only the top four teams in the Premiership would qualify.
Now, though, UEFA have taken pity on the Merseyside club, despite originally insisting that there were only four places available to English clubs.
A spokesman for Europe's governing body explained last night that there had been a change of heart because they feel the Champions League could be devalued if the winners aren't allowed to defend their trophy.
UEFA's top brass will discuss the possibility of offering a fifth place to English clubs at a meeting in Manchester on June 18 and 19.
If the Anfield club do gain entry into next season's competition after winning it, then they will be top-seeded and given immediate entry into the group stages, forcing both Arsenal and Manchester United to go through the qualifying rounds.
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Drew
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well they aint gunna finish 4th as everton have just scored a 2nd 
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Robbo
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Tis ridiculous, even the World Cup winners dont get automatic entry for the World Cup so why should the CL winners 
Dont belive the part about 2nd place side having to qualify tho thats completely unfair IMO
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Robbo
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quote:
Originally posted by Drew
well they aint gunna finish 4th as everton have just scored a 2nd
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Drew
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wonder if the change of mind is due to arsen wenger (sp) saying that he will now concentrate on the league and not on the champ league no more
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Robbo
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lol to be fair tho wenger is right, psv were unlucky not to go thru ahead of milan - it really is becoming more of an fa cup style competition rather than the euro cup of old
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Drew
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i did think the wc winners did get auto entry, as it used to say
hosts -- ??
holders -- ??
but it seems not, im sure they use to thou
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Robbo
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not anymore, this is the first time...
also i cant belive they could make the 2nd placed team qualify - id like to see them justify this, any of it to be fair!
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Robbo
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quote:
Originally posted by Drew
1972
The European Championships saw major changes in 1980. It was chosen as the host nation and was given automatic entry into the final stages of the competition but this didn't help them get to the final. West Germany again got to the final, and this time beat Belgium 2 - 1.
even the hosts didnt get auto entry to euro cup before then 
i know, they changed that i *think* after one of the hosts failed to qualify...
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Drew
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ah so they did use to qually auto as winners?
id say holders of any non national cup should gain auto entry the next year, be it world or cl
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Greg_M
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quote:
Originally posted by Robbo
Tis ridiculous, even the World Cup winners dont get automatic entry for the World Cup so why should the CL winners
yes they do, any champion should defend there title.
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Robbo
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg_M
quote:
Originally posted by Robbo
Tis ridiculous, even the World Cup winners dont get automatic entry for the World Cup so why should the CL winners
yes they do, any champion should defend there title.
brazil have to qualify for the 2006 world cup
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Robbo
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quote:
Originally posted by Drew
ah so they did use to qually auto as winners?
id say holders of any non national cup should gain auto entry the next year, be it world or cl
oh yeah up until next yr the world cup winners qualified auto but brazil are having to qualify now
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Drew
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nah, brazil is qualifying this year, they are 2nd in table behind argentina
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Drew
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ah u beat me on that one 
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Robbo
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In theory i agree that all champions should be allowed to defend their title but i dont agree with all this late fannying around... i dont agree that uefa can fuck with the rules to suit individual circumstances - the fa decided 4th place goes in so that should be final IMO
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Drew
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got milan to beat before any of this is releven anyway
but yes, should have been sorted before the start of the season, unless they just expected chelsea to win
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Robbo
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true yes
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Tom
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Bollox to you's we winning it and skipping qualifiers
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