Cyprus advances on the UEFA country ranking

Cyprus ranks first so far on the UEFA country ranking table for the new football season 2008-2009, with 5.666 points, after last week’s results in the European Cups.
Anorthosis Famagusta FC beat on Wednesday Athens Panathinaikos FC with 3-1 in Champions’ League Group B matchday 2, and FC APOEL secured a 1-1 draw in ''Veltins Arena'' with Germany's Schalke.
Spain ranks second with 5.562 and England 3rd with 5.222.
On the general UEFA rankings, the performance of teams in the European Cups during a five year period, Cyprus ranks 24th with 14.415. England is first with 69.721 and Spain ranks second with 66.516 points. Greece ranks 14th with 24.915 points.
According to UEFA regulation, the basis for the UEFA rankings is the performance of teams in the European Cups during a five-year period. During that period, each team gets two points for a win and one point for a draw. From 1999 on these points are halved for qualification matches: one point for a win and half a point for a draw. One bonus point is allocated for reaching the quarter final, the semi final and the final. Reaching the group stage of the Champions League yields three bonus points.