ENGLISH football is poised to reclaim the title of best in Europe – after NINE years.
And if either Chelsea or Arsenal beat their Spanish opponents this week, England will be confirmed in top spot – even if all four remaining Prem clubs go out at the semi-final stage.
The exploits of the Prem’s Euro battlers have seen England’s five-year Uefa coefficient score rise to 98.283 points.
Two points are earned for every win and one for each draw in European competition, divided between the number of teams who have qualified – seven in the case of England – to provide an average score for each country.
England started the season in second place behind Spain, who have been top of the Euro table since 2012.
But while English clubs have accrued 22.071 points so far, Spain have gathered just 18.642, for a total of 96.997.
With only Real Madrid and Villarreal left of LaLiga’s initial seven sides, Spain’s maximum possible final total is 98.711.
England will be assured of topping that if Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United pick up just three draws, or a win and a draw, in their combined eight matches across both legs of the semi-finals.
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But a win for either Chelsea against Real on Tuesday, or the Gunners against Unai Emery’s side on Thursday, will ensure England cannot be overtaken.
The Prem last stood on top of the pile after Chelsea’s Champions League triumph in 2012.
English football was at the head of the standings from the end of the 2007-08 season – when Chelsea met United in the Moscow Champions League final – for five years.
But Spain then took over, with England actually falling below Germany and into third place in 2015-16 and then again the following campaign.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
