UEFA's latest figures confirm Italy are hot on England's heels in the contest to maintain four Champions League places next season.
England's club coefficient ranking is 65.659 to Italy's 61.605, aided by bonus points being given for four English clubs in the Champions League compared to two Italians.
However the rest of the season's ranking points will be determined entirely by performances, with results in the Europa League given identical points as those in the Champions League.
The rankings reflect the poor start by English clubs in the Champions League - Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal all lost their opening games - but wins for Chelsea and for Tottenham in the Europa League helped stave off Italy's challenge.
At the end of last season, England were second behind Spain and ahead of Germany in the rankings.
The rankings are calculated over a five-year period, but the 2010-11 season - a year that was particularly good for England and poor for Italy - now drops out of the calculations.
The changes mean Germany has already overtaken England.
Spain and Germany both have all seven of their European entrants into the group stages, including a record five for La Liga in the Champions League.
Ireland remain in 41st place in the coefficient rankings, with a ranking of 5,450. This leaves Ireland well behind Macedonia but marginally ahead of Latvia. The Irish points this year came from European qualifier wins for Shamrock Rovers and UCD as well as qualifier draws for Dundalk, Cork and Shamrock Rovers.
