Uefa Confirm Champions League Qualification Ananova Tuesday April 23, 2002 7:02 AM

With Arsenal on the brink of the Premiership title, Liverpool and Manchester United are left fighting over who has the longer summer holidays.

Runners-up spot for either means they will avoid the early start of a Champions League third qualifying game in early August.

Uefa have confirmed that, with English football having four teams in the Champions League for the first time, the clubs finishing third and fourth will both enter the competition at the third qualifying round next season and not at the first and second stages starting in July.

The third qualifying round will almost certainly feature Newcastle, along with either United or Liverpool.

"It wouldn't be good to have to play a qualifier after having been involved in the World Cup because it would mean coming back early when the players could do with a bit more rest."

The draw for the third qualifying stage will be made in Nyon, Switzerland on July 26, with the ties being staged on August 14 and 28.

England's top two go directly to the group stages which start a month later.

But what happens if ManU win it this year but end up 3rd?

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Answers

They'd have to play in the qualifying round...

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

More reason to hope for an early WC exit for Ingerland so that Dyer can have a bit rest.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Can't understand how people want England to do crap this summer so Dyer can rest!!! I support Newcastle as much as the next person but I still want England to win the world cup!!! Dyer has not played much this season and I think that playing 8, 10 games in the world cup will make no difference at all. If anything it will bring his fitness levels up and remove any doubt he ha about his injuries etc in time for the new season!! AM

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

The third qualifying round will almost certainly feature Newcastle, along with either United or Liverpool

So if it's not Liverpool we're in the CL TWICE! How does that work then?

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Giving the title to @rse is a bit premature, too.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

I was discussing the qualification process in the pub on Sunday. And not being very bright I got a wee bit confused.
One opinion was that NUFC being a massive Champion League contender coming from a rich country and a glamour league (England), are just the kind of club the Champs League needs to keep the money machine working. So, rather cynically, one mate said we would without question get a team from a poorer country and a less glamorous league which we will win without too much bother. He said "it's all fixed that way".
Another mate said "well what about Ajax playing Celtic at the start of this season - two glamour teams".
Do U think Scotland and Holland can be compared financially with England? Could we draw Celtic or Rangers or Ajax? Will we get another team from a country like Croatia where millions of adverts at half- time are pointless?
Champions League talk is my new hobby 80D

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Zagreb were no pushovers last time around...there were definitely easier matches we could've had!

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Liverpool got some Finnish side who they demolished

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

When baalyheed scored with the last kick of the match is one of my happiest moments as a toony

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

I assume if we lose the qualifier (if we qualify for the qualifier) we go into the UEFA Cup? If so, in which round?

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

From UEFA.com

"Sixteen clubs eliminated in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League take part in the UEFA Cup first round, and the eight clubs which finish the first group stage of the UEFA Champions League in third place in their respective group enter the UEFA Cup in the third round."

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

So are we gonna have bbs trips to our european away games? i'm up for it...

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

I hope we get Swedish champions Hammarby. Two reasons: 1) I get to see Newcastle in Sweden. 2) We will run them over!

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Of course we are Gav, always assuming we can get the bliddy tickets!

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

That's interesting - I didn't know you had to finish 3rd in yr CL group to parachute into the UEFA Cup.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Gav, I sense a bit of optimism. Is it because half a litre is more than half a pint? ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Just watch it backfire on me now Pete!

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2002

Even now, with us finally IN, I'm still confused. If we don't get through the third round of the CL in August, and given that we have/will finish 4th in the PL, what happens? Do we drop down into the EUFA as in previous years, or are we just plain and simple out, and back to concentrating on an English treble? Seems a bit harsh if it's the latter. (No, I'm not Gav in disguise, I'm sure we'll qualify and play with the big boys)

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002

We go into the EUFA Cup.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2002