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UEFA Cup Dreams meet reality in Europe's second biggest competition.By Chipp ReidSpecial To SoccerTimes HALMSTAD, Sweden (Tuesday, July 18, 2000) -- Lost amid the hoopla and hooliganism of the 2000 European Championship, the qualifying draw of the 2000\2001 UEFA Cup was held June 23 in Geneva. Representatives from 82 teams, ranging from Azerbaijan to the Faeroe Islands watched expectantly as the clubs were drawn and grouped for the preliminary round of play, which begins August 10. During the draw, those representatives were able to enjoy the stuff dreams, or at least "Rocky" movies, are made of: the little guy beating all odds to claim a championship. But reality for teams in the UEFA Cup, named for Europe’s governing body, as well as the early rounds of the UEFA Champions League, is much different. The two pre-eminent club tournaments in the world are basically rigged so the big-name, big money teams have the best shot at winning the trophy. The first two stages of the UEFA Cup are used as a process to knock 58 teams out of the tournament. When the third round begins, the established teams from England, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy will enter the fray. The field is again cut down to 24 teams in play-downs for the fourth round, when the third-place teams from the Champions League move to the UEFA Cup. The entire process is one that is geared toward eliminating the teams that can't compete, either in talent or money, with larger clubs. But that doesn't mean smaller, nearly unknown sides can't revel in their dreams of glories, if only for a short time. Two Americans are competing in UEFA Cup this year. Kasey Keller's Rayo Vallencano of Spain will play Constelacio Esportiva of tiny Andorra in the opening home-and-home round. John O'Brien's Ajax of Amsterdam will join the fray in the third round. "Well, we know we're not going to win the UEFA Cup," said Tom Prahl, manager of Halmstads BK of Sweden. "We are a little team and we know we can't compete with the big teams in Europe. But we will try to win every game we play and just see what happens." That sentiment is shared by many of the teams in the preliminary round of the Cup. "The final is certainly out of the question for us," said Paul Third, Public Relations officer for Aberdeen FC of Scotland. "This is our first time in Europe since 1996. We were runners-up in the (Scottish) Cup but finished bottom of the table in the league, so we're coming off a real roller-coaster season. But that doesn't mean we can't at least dream of what it would be like." The reality smaller clubs face when playing in Europe can be daunting. Few of the teams, except for clubs such as Scotland's Glasgow Celtic or Rapid Vienna of Austria, have the financial means to compete for players on the European market. Many, like Bangor City of Wales, don't even have full-time office staff. "There is a gap between the teams, certainly," said Bangor City president Alun Griffiths. "But it's such an honor to see your club's name up there in the board during the draw. It's a very special feeling. We even intend to have at least one full-time person in our office by next week." While the smaller clubs realize their chances of winning either the UEFA Cup of champions League are slim, they also realize the potential for national prestige and lucrative prize money that can be won in the later stages. Halmstad striker Henrik Bertilsson said doing well in the UEFA Cup was almost as important as winning the Swedish League. "It is very important that we do well," he said. "We are the top team in Sweden right now. We're first in the league and we have to show that means something. I don't think we will win it, but we are going to play as well as we can." Doing well in the early stages can also have larger ramifications."We're representing Scottish football," Third said. "Scottish teams haven't done so well in Europe. We have a chance to repair that reputation a little bit if we do well." The early stages, with the possibility of traveling to countries in remote parts of Europe, also offer another benefit for smaller clubs."Our players will have the chance to see different cultures and different people," Griffiths said. "That's very important to us and to the young players we have." Then there is the money. UEFA is putting up 96 million Swiss francs ($58 million) to run the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. Teams receive between $30,000 and $45,000 per game to cover travel expenses and also earn prize money for wins following the first three rounds. Those sums, said Third, can add up quickly. "Once you get into the third or fourth stage, you're talking about some very serious money," he said. "Between television and attendance and the prize money, it can prove to be a huge boost." While added income is a major part of any European campaign, it is the dreams of the smaller clubs that makes the tough, somewhat futile truly worth while for them. "This is football, and in football, anything can happen," Prahl said. "We don't think we can win the final, but that's
why we have to play the matches. Anything can happen."
Kalle (Chipp) Reid is an editor at the New Haven Register. He covers soccer for a variety of Swedish newspapers.
He can be reached at dreid01@snet.net. 2000/2001 UEFA Cup qualifying draw
Constelacio Esportiva (Andorra) vs. Real Vallecano (Spain)
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