This summer, I started another blog/website www.escapetosuomi.com, aimed at more of a niche market, namely Finnish football. My vested interest in the subject was the subject of an old post referring to my Finnish wife and being subjected to a stream of Finnish media, culture and sport.
Luckily I was already aware that the Finnish domestic league was one that played throughout the summer, and I got into it just before the resumption of European competition. The Champions League final was on May 19th, and the first qualifying round for the 2012/13 edition begun on July 3rd, just forty-five days later.
Liverpool play TNS in 2005, weeks after being crowned Champions of Europe
Back in 2005, England got it's first taste of early-season European action after Liverpool were crowbarred into the tournament they had just won, as UEFA rules had not previously allowed the holders direct entry, and finishing fifth meant they'd have been destined for the UEFA Cup. On the 13th of July, Liverpool entertained Welsh side TNS at Anfield in what would normally have been a friendly. A necessary evil?
Most of the 'smaller' clubs in Europe see their sides' continental ambitions live or die in July and August, before the bigger clubs even dust themselves down to go to the Monte Carlo draw. As part of my new brief, I actually went to Wales to see the second leg of the first round tie between Llanelli and KuPS (Mrs N's hometown team), and to see it from a different perspective was refreshing.
Llanelli's Stebonheath Park under the lights
534 brave souls turned out in the pissing rain, including around fifty from Kuopio. The home club were fantastic, treating it almost as a cup final (hope that doesn't sound too patronising!), the general manager was in contact regarding press passes to the game, and even the local mayor turned up. The prize on offer was a two-legged tie to the fourth best team in Israel, as well as €100,000. Not far away, second division Cefn Druids made it through by virtue of finishing runners-up in the Welsh Cup.
There is even the occasional shock: In this week's second qualifying round for the Champions League, Dudelange of Luxembourg (ranked 317 in UEFA rankings) recorded only their fourth ever European aggregate victory against Red Bull Salzburg (ranked 69th). It's not just the British who like an underdog, Twitter exploded with glee at the result, although there is the element of anti-establishment involved, with the splendid Mirko Bolesan noting how amusing it is when sides who destroy their history fall on their face, in reference to the owners, who appear to have proved that they do not give you wings.
There is even the occasional shock: In this week's second qualifying round for the Champions League, Dudelange of Luxembourg (ranked 317 in UEFA rankings) recorded only their fourth ever European aggregate victory against Red Bull Salzburg (ranked 69th). It's not just the British who like an underdog, Twitter exploded with glee at the result, although there is the element of anti-establishment involved, with the splendid Mirko Bolesan noting how amusing it is when sides who destroy their history fall on their face, in reference to the owners, who appear to have proved that they do not give you wings.
Dudelange players enjoy their moment in the sun
English clubs scoff, ignore and mock these early ties. For some clubs, these are the life blood. Even a run to the play-off round in the Champions League can result in over two million Euros prize money. They'll never play in a final, and are unlikely to play any games past Christmas, but it means far more than any pre-season friendly. To see the UEFA flag above the small terrace and the exotic visitors is enough. Plus it keeps us minority bloggers in business before the big boys come back to the playground...
(SHAMELESS PLUG) And if you do have any interest in Finnish (or other occasional Scandinavian and European) football, feel free to head to Escape To Suomi...
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