Italy risks losing 4th Champions League entry

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MILAN, Mar 13 (AP): Italy could lose its fourth Champions League entry as a result of its flop in Europe this season.

Juventus, Inter Milan and AS Roma were each eliminated from the Champions League by English clubs this week and Fiorentina didn't make it out of the group stage.

"We're just a step away from losing third place in UEFA's rankings and therefore a Champions League team," AC Milan chairman Adriano Galliani told reporters as he entered an Italian league meeting Friday.

The loss of city rival Inter to Manchester United didn't please Galliani.

"I can't understand how anyone could be happy," he said. "Whoever is happy is stupid."

Milan was eliminated from the UEFA Cup two weeks ago along with Sampdoria and Fiorentina.

The last remaining Italian team in Europe this season is unsung Udinese, which beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 in a first-leg UEFA Cup match Thursday.

For next season, the top three countries in UEFA's rankings are awarded three direct entries into the Champions League and one into the final round of qualifying. The fourth- through sixth-placed countries get two direct entries and one into qualifying.

England leads this season's rankings with 76.7 points, followed by Spain with 73 and Italy with 62.4. Germany is fourth with 54 points.