THE ROAD TO TIRANA, SEVILLE & ST PETERSBURG

[theo29]

Next season there are 3 Euro finals and it all begins next week (6 July) even before the end of the Euro's !

[forestfan]

Do we get to predict how many of those finals take place in their originally scheduled city?

[theo29]

the road to St P began in Vilnius, Lithuania yesterday with Linfield losing 3-1 to the locals. Second leg next Tuesday, 13th July.

[forestfan]

I see David Healy’s managing them, still Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer I think, and at one point seemingly the only person who ever scored for them! Scored the winner against England in that World Cup qualifier, which gave a hint that the Sven era was going to end with a whimper even though I think we’d already qualified. Saw recently that England and NI haven’t played each other since.

[theo29]

the road to Tirana was busy yesterday with (I think) all the Conference teams in initial action. A good number from Ireland & Wales starting out. Do we have any FISOers possibly involved or interested ? Neath boy is a SWANSEA fan and not part of the Conference this season.

[Oxford NZ]

A little late to to post sorry. Bodo Glimt lost their first leg Champions league qualifying match 2-3 at home against Legia Warsaw .The away leg is is on the 15th and hoping they do not get another player sent off and can pull off the win.

[murf]

Wasn't he one of the dwarves in the Hobbit books?

[Oxford NZ]

^ na that was the grandfather

[theo29]

the HOBBIT Norwegians (Bodo Glimt) lost to LEGA WARWAW & then Lega beat FLORA from Talinn, Estonia. Next they go to DINAMO ZAGREB, 5th August and at home the following week. The road to St Petersburg has already closed for CELTIC who must now have another try in the Europa Prem.
Also next week it is RANGERS v MALMO.
News from the road to Tirana & the Europa Conference shortly. Still listening Oxford ?

[Oxford NZ]

Still here at 4.20 am and just heading off to work. The Eliteserien teams not doing so well atm

[blahblah]

Shouldn't it be a train to Tirana?

[theo29]

the nearest you will get is Sleeping Car to Trieste (1948). Not far from Rijeka, Croatia where Hibs are playing in the next round. Strong Irish presence too as well as The New Saints.

[blahblah]

You don't do anagrams then?

[raoul]

Personally I ran at Tirana

[blahblah]

Ta Iran

[theo29]

also on the Tirana Trail is the Oswestry/ Welsh team The New Saints who this week entertain Viktoria Plzen, the Czech beer team, Pilsen Urquell (highly recommended). They will need the services of The Man in seat 61 when they go to Plzen on 12 August.

[Oxford NZ]

new saints.jpg

[theo29]

BODO KLIMT are back this week and not too far from Tirana to play the Kosovo team PRISTINA. This is their final chance this year to feature in Europe. Can tghey take it ?

[theo29]

the Orient Express would be useful this week for ST JOHNSTONE to get to Istanbul for their game with GALARATSARY in the Europa.
CELTIC make their debut in the Europa with a trip to small town Czech Rep, JABLONEC NAD NISOU about 90kms N of Prague.
Both these are on the Seville road.

[Oxford NZ]

BODO KLIMT are back this week and not too far from Tirana to play the Kosovo team PRISTINA. This is their final chance this year to feature in Europe. Can tghey take it ?

The hobbits won 3-1 in the Norwegian cup v Junkeren yesterday and now have to make the trip to Kosovo.

longship09.jpg

[theo29]

why cannot I see Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis or Victor Mature on your viking boat en route to Kosovo ?

[Oxford NZ]

They went to the Olympics (to watch Lisa Carrington in the Kayaking ) and skipped the skirmish in Kosovo

[theo29]

it is St Petersburg Tuesday with the CELTIC conquerors MIDTJYLAND in Holland v PSV EINDHOVEN. Also involved today are MONACO v SPARTA PRAGUE in Prague.

[theo29]

Tuesday & Wednesday are St Petersburg nights but Gerrard's RANGERS stumble in Sweden v MALMO in the opening game. MONACO won in Prague and PSV beat the Danish MIDTJYLAND 3-0.

[theo29]

a busy night in the Conference League on the way to Tirana, 30 matches in total. ABERDEEN are in Iceland v BREIDEBLIK and HIBERNIAN at home to Croatian outfit, RIJEKA. There is also a Maltese team in action called HIBERNIANS.
Both CELTIC & ST JOHNSTONE are on the Seville road hoping to progress in the main Europa.

[theo29]

the Tuesday trail to St Petersburg sees the 2nd leg of the 3rd qualifying round in the Champions League. 10 games in all with the UK interest on RANGERS trying to overcome a 1-2 first leg loss to the Swedes from MALMO.
Reminds me when MALMO were in the Munich final v FOREST IN 1979 !

[theo29]

RANGERS leave the St Petersburg road after a Ibrox defeat by MALMO who will meet the Bulgarian side LUDOGORETS next week. The winner of that will be in the Group stages. RANGERS will have to try their luck instead on the Europa route to Seville. CELTIC are there too.

[theo29]

lots of Scottish interest on both the Europa & Conference routes to Seville & Tirana. Also last chance for the Norwegian Bodo/Glimt in the Conference.

[Oxford NZ]

hobit.jpg

[theo29]

yes they got through to the Play-offs and this week are away to ZALGIRIS VILNIUS in the first leg. Making their first appearance in the Europa Conference are SPURS away to PACOS FERREIRA in Portugal. Also in the Conference are SHAMROCK ROVERS, ABERDEEN & ST JOHNSTONE.
The team we are following, the Croatian side, RIJEKA are away to PAOK.
In the Europa, CELTIC are at home to AZ. There is no UK involvement in the Champions League until the Group stages arrive.