Zulte Waregem's Karel D'Haene after scoring
a goal against Espanyol. (AFP) CESAR RANGEL
The list of past winners of the UEFA Cup reads like a Who's
Who of continental football. Giants like Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid,
Juventus, Inter Milan and Liverpool have all lifted the coveted trophy,
but since Galatasaray's surprise victory over Arsenal in 2000 Europe's
second cup competition has generated more than its fair share of shock
results. Since the Istanbul club's success, both Russian side CSKA Moscow
and the Spaniards of Sevilla have defied the odds to clinch their first-ever
European titles.
Looking at the line-up for the 2006/2007 competition's Round of 32, there
could well be a similar surprise in store. In addition to the teams demoted
from the Champions League (Benfica, Bordeaux, Werder Bremen etc.,), and
the big names safely through the group stages (Ajax, Feyenoord, Tottenham,
PSG), there is a fair smattering of out-and-out European novices.
The biggest bolt from the blue undoubtedly comes from Belgium, where the
part-amateur outfit Zulte Waregem are causing a veritable sensation. On
the back of winning the Belgian Cup in their first top-flight season,
they have gone on to reach the last 32 on their first European foray,
emerging from a group containing Dutch aristocrats Ajax and La Liga side
Espanyol.
Having sealed qualification even before their final group game, the Belgians
are enjoying a fairy-tale campaign. Despite their success, they are keeping
their feet firmly on the ground. "It seems incredible to say it,
but the most important match of the week for us will be our home game
with Charleroi," declared Frederic Dindeleux, one of Waregem's three
French players, before the match against the Dutch giants. "Playing
host to Ajax is a great honour, but our league situation is perilous.
We've already reached the next round of the UEFA Cup, so the championship
has to be the priority." As a result, the 3-0 defeat inflicted by
Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Co. will no doubt soon be forgotten, as the humble
Belgian outfit prepare to take on Premiership big-spenders Newcastle United
in their next historic European tie.
Zulte Waregem's progress is mirrored by that of their cross-border neighbours,
Nancy. After being promoted to Ligue 1 last season, the A.S.N.L also proceeded
to win the domestic cup and with it a place in the UEFA Cup. This time
around, as well as enjoying a fine start to the season in Le Championnat,
the Lorraine region outfit are also stringing together sterling performances
on the European scene. A resounding 3-1 win over Schalke 04 propelled
Pablo Correa's charges into the group stages where, far from being intimidated
by the likes of Feyenoord, Basle and Blackburn Rovers, Nancy qualified
with ease.
The club from northern France could even have sneaked top spot in the
section, but defeat to a late Blackburn goal (1-0) deprived them of what
would have been an incredible feat. Their second-place finish means they
will have further opportunity to play the role of outsiders against Ukrainian
side Shakhtar Donetsk, one of the clubs to have dropped down from this
year's Champions League.
Israeli clubs on the up
Hapoel Tel Aviv's midfielder Salim Toama is
mobbed during the shock win over PSG. (AFP) FRANCK
FIFE
While Spain, France and England often boast two or more
representatives in the Round of 32, the fact that Israel have followed
suit speaks volumes for the current state of Israeli football. On top
of the national team's fine start to UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying and the
country's U-21 side's qualification for their European Championships,
Israeli clubs are now proving to be a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
Maccabi Haifa, for example, qualified from a very tight group ahead of
Livorno, Auxerre and Partizan Belgrade, losing only to Glasgow Rangers.
Hapoel Tel Aviv had to wait until the final group game to secure progress
courtesy of a 1-1 draw away at Mlada Boleslav, but their 4-2 humbling
of PSG at the Parc des Princes will no doubt remain one of their club's
finest hours. "It's unforgettable, a fantastic night," enthused
their coach Yitzhak Schum after the tie. "That's the Hapoel I want
to see." This sentiment was shared by midfielder Salim Tomea, who
bagged a brace on an historic night in Paris: "It's the best win
of my career so far. We showed loads of character and determination."
Maccabi now face CSKA Moscow, while Hapoel try to succeed where their
fellow countrymen failed against Rangers.
The unexpected qualifiers for the next round also include Portugal's Sporting
Braga, who are also giving their country's big three (Porto, Benfica and
Sporting) a run for their money on the domestic scene. Inspired by wily
veteran Joao Pinto, on the scoresheet in their last game against Switzerland's
Grasshoppers, the Iberians secured third place in Group C behind reigning
champions Sevilla and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar - who topped the section.
In the next round, Braga face former winners Parma.
Second in their domestic championship behind the untouchable PSV Eindhoven,
Louis van Gaal's AZ Alkmaar even managed to defeat the holders over on
Andalusian soil. Once again, experience counted heavily, with the former
Ajax prodigy from Georgia, Shota Arveladze, getting both goals in a 2-1
victory. In the Round of 32, Van Gaal's boys cross swords with Fenerbahce.
After shining over four games in the group stages, the outsiders must
now rise to the challenge of the knockout rounds. Let the big guns be
warned: this year's UEFA Cup still has plenty of surprises in store:
,
15 Dec 2006.
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
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