The Last of the Portuguese UEFA Cup Mohicans

By: Greg | October 11th, 2007

ddl (An article like this indicates that two large, annoyingly yellow neon lights should be flashing the words “International Break” over your computer screen)

Four Portuguese teams went in, only one came out. The meat grinder that is the UEFA Cup chewed up and spit out Pacos de Ferreira, Belenenenenses, and U.d.Leiria. The only club to survive the round of four million was Braga. Before we get into any quickie analysis filler, I feel the need to put in my two cents on this tournament…

We got into a spirited chat on the Italy Offside the other day in regards to what the UEFA Cup really means. Besides being a tournament that essentially allows in every team one might find in the most recent iteration of the FIFA video game, it is also a chance for teams who will almost certainly never taste ultra top level competition (for example, ::sings in sweet ass falsetto:: THE CHAMPIOOOONNNNS) to compete in an international tournament. In the end, teams who qualify as a consolation prize for either placing third in their Champions League groups or for having an off year in their domestic leagues will probably look upon the tournament with a fair amount of resentment. Do you really think Bayern Munich, in their heart of hearts, will be thrusting the cup happily skyward knowing that they’re the best of the middle? How about a team that just got knocked out of their Champions League group? A few weeks beforehand, they were playing for Europe’s top prize. Now they get to compete for a consolation prize that they aren’t even gifted to the finals for? Quite the bittersweet endeavor if you ask me. However, if you’re the team that squeaked into the UEFA Cup through domestic competition and you’ve made it to the knockout stages, then you really have something to hang your proverbial hat on. The tournament more or less is whatever a given team makes of it. If Braga or a similar team wins the Cup, then it’s pandemonium among the supporters. That being said, back to your regularly scheduled blogging…

Braga’s group consists of Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), the aforementioned and easy favorite Bayern Munich (Deutschland), Michael Bolton Wanderers (Inglaterra), and Aris Thessaloniki (Greece, you’re the one that I want). I think Braga will advance here, with Bayern winning the group and the Serbian side rounding out the top three. Braga has a history of throwing wrenches into larger clubs’ European plans and hopefully they’ll catch fire here in order to advance. I have trouble getting all too excited about it not so much given the level of the prize (UEFA Cup), but more so because there’s just a massive amount of football still to be played until the final. Here’s how I predict Braga’s matches will go..

October 25th — Braga @ Bolton – Bolton at home don’t scare me this season. They’ve dropped three league games already in la casa and I see this as a very winnable game for Braga. This is the type of game the Portuguese side have to win if they wish to advance. Braga 1 – 0 Bolton

November 29th — Bayern @ Braga – Just take the loss and move on, kids… Bayern 2 – 0 Braga

December 6 — Braga @ Aris Thessaloniki – These fans are maniacs. Hopefully since it’s still the early stages of the UEFA Cup, not too many will show up. This is another away tie that I think Braga can win being the better side. Braga 2 – 1 Aris Thessaloniki

December 19 –Crvena Zvezda @ Braga –These guys can flat out play. I think Braga can make it through on the strength of the two away wins, but feel also that they can gut out a home draw against the 06/07 Serbian Champs. Braga 0 – 0 Crvena Zvezda

Those results puts them on seven points and a comfortable cruise to the next round. Whatever that means. Due to the previous blog’s decent comment-driven discussion, the smooches are back. Kisses ALL AROUND!!!