It's official - there is no such thing as a summer break in Football anymore. The 2004-2005 season isn't completely over yet (Bologna - Parma play their relegation decider 2nd leg tommorow .. Serie B is yet to be concluded), but tommorow sees the start of the 2005-2006 season with the 1st round 1st leg of the Intertoto Cup!
With the Womens Euro 2005 tournament, Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Youth Championship taking part throughout June; it hardly seems like we've had a significant break from Football at all.
The 1st Round of the Intertoto Cup won't bring us any big names in the footballing world, but they will be taking part soon enough! The 2nd and 3rd rounds will see bigger teams enter .. and then we have CL QR1 starting in just less than a months time (watch as Liverpool thrash whoever they play!
) along with UEFA QR1! For a glimpse at Liverpools potential opponents, and a look at the teams involved in the qualifying rounds for both Cups, please click on these links:
CL Seeding UEFA Cup Seeding ALL the teams that have qualified for European Football next season
The draw for the CL 1st/2nd round & UEFA Cup 1st Round is due to take place next Friday.
In terms of domestic campaigns, the 2005-2006 season will be a little shorter, so to give players a short break before next years World Cup (which we will be enjoying this time in a year!
) Most seasons don't seem to be starting any earlier, but it is startling to think that the Scottish Premier will be kicking off in just over 6 weeks! (July 30th) .. with the English Football League a week later (August 6th) and the English Premiership another week after that (August 13th). Our anticipation of the new season will surely be heightened even more next Thursday, as that is when the new fixture lists are due to be released! I wonder - who will kick off the new season where!? Maybe we'll have a clash between two of the Premierships big boys on the first gameday, like last season (only this time it can be between Chelsea and Arsenal
)
I already can't wait to see the leagues return!
.. but until then, I shall do my best to enjoy the qualification rounds for CL & UEFA, as well as the Intertoto Cup (prediction leagues help quite a bit here!)
Until kick-off draws much closer, we could keep any non-transfer releated news in here (like the announcement of the fixture lists for next season & the Intertoto Cup). Also, I'd like to lay claim to the thread for Champions League (Prediction League
) UEFA Cup, Premiership and Football League! .. as well as the return of EA's Premiership Prediction League (which will be starting its 5th season!
)
Intertoto Cup - 1st Round, 1st Leg Saturday 18th June
Beitar Jerusalem (Isr) .v. Sileks (Mac)
Bohemians (Ire) .v. Gent (Bel)
Cluj (Rom) .v. Vetra (Lit)
JK Trans (Est) .v. Lokeren (Bel)
KS Dinamo (Aus) .v. Varteks (Cro)
Lernagorts (Arm) .v. Xamax (Swi)
Olympiakos FC (Cyp) .v. Gloria Bistrita (Rom)
Rosport (Lux) .v. Goteborg (Swe)
Skala (FI) .v. Tampere United (Fin)
Slaven Belupo (Cro) .v. Dvara (Sloe)
Tiligul (Mol) .v. Pogon (Pol)
Valletta FC (Mal) .v. Buducnost (Ser)
Vasas (Hun) .v. Dubnica (Sloa)
Sunday 19th June
Bangor City (Wal) .v. Dinaburg (Lat)
Inter Turku (Fin) .v. IA Akranes (Ice)
Karvan (Aze) .v. Lech (Pol)
Nemen (Bel) .v. Zlin (Cze)
Ranger's (And) .v. Sturm Graz (Aus)
Sartid (Ser) .v. Pobeda (Mac)
Tatabanya (Hun) .v. WIT Georgia (Geo)
Zalgiris (Lit) .v. Lisburn (NI)
Let the fun begin!
Re: The new Football season is approaching! 
