In case you missed it, Atletico Madrid Rangers were heading for Europa League heartbreak at Sporting Lisbon when, in the 92nd minute, Mo Edu did this:
(Yeah, it could have been any one of four ‘Gers tonking that in, but it wasn’t. Stay on track, people.)
The goal not only lifted Rangers into the next round at Sporting’s expense, but served a higher purpose:
It also lifted Scotland above Switzerland into 15th place in the UEFA rankings, which grade countries on their clubs’ performance in the Champions League and second-tier Europa League competitions over a five-year period.
If you’re below 15th in the rankings, only your league champions gets a crack at the top European competition, and they enter in the second qualifying round, meaning there are three hurdles before the group stage. 15th spot, which Scotland grabbed from Switzerland on account of Rangers’ last-minute win, gets their league champion AND their league runner-up in the pot, and both sides enter in the third qualifying round (which means only two opponents standing between them and the group round).
It doesn’t seem like much, but when you consider all the money UEFA rains upon those teams duking it out in European competition, it’s precious to have two shots at the cash prizes instead of just one, and having greater odds of accruing more cash on account of less preamble before the coveted group stage. Though the decline since Rangers’ trip to the Europa League final in 2008 means that next season only the league champ will compete, Edu’s goal ensures that the SPL has two reps again in 2012/13. Let’s hope they can hold them this time, eh?
So, thank Mo Edu for rescuing Scottish soccer from even greater European irrelevance. It’s not a complete job done, but it’ll do for today.
Worst. Defending. Evar.
Seriously thought that was Madrid playing until at least the goal went in and it really was Mo scoring. Was very confused.
I know I’m a girl, so I could have missed something, but seriously, like 4 Rangers players were offside when the ball was played. That’s insane.
MW: Ball was played backwards. So no offside.
Healy breaks through naked and they have four guys unmarked in the box when they’re up a goal in injury time? I agree with EF – absolutely terrible defending.
/at least I assume it’s EF. If not he’s going to be pissed someone took his avatar
Yep. I see someone switched to their twitter name.
He’s played shite football the past month or so, too. Swear to fuck it’s R. Clark in disguise, absolutely disgraceful at Perkdead at the weekend, constantly out of position and dispossessed far too easily. But that goal was a savior, and it’s not his first. Just wish he’d get his damn head straight more often.
That was the worst defending I have seen this season.
How can you save crap….
The scottish league is about the quality of the slovenian 1st division and maybe one day it can become of the caliber of the Swiss 1st D.
Besides, who cares about provincial leagues.
How about you stick with countries only… we dont need to know about Catalonia or Quebec or Basque ..or Scotland.
You want to reform FIFA… get rid of the non-countries that have teams… no other league does this `its our ball and we make up the rules`. Imagine if canada got more team in hockey or the US had a basketball team as well as one for NY, CA and Indiana.
Its a joke that UK get 4 of 8 votes at IFAB (the ones who make the rules, NOT FIFA) even though there are noncountries involved.
Feck the scottish league.
Its like Sunderland vs Stoke without the talent.
@ roberto Mancini.
Scotland IS a country, it’s not the same as Catalonia, Quebec or Basque. It has it’s own government and it’s football team and football association. So if FIFA is the internation federation of football associations, then every country with it’s own football association has a right to be in it.
Other that your comment being wrong it also has nothing to do with the article!
@robert mancini
Does New York have it’s own distinctly seperate culture or language and a long history as a separate country? No? Thanks for clearing that up.
Am so unfortunate that i didn’t get a chance to watch the video but all the same thanks for the great work and the information provided.