Sweden’s European Beat-Down, and more…

By: Ian Rose | August 13th, 2007

It may not seem like it, but going into this big week of European football, with both UEFA Cup and Champions League matches on cue, we’ve already played a lot of European games. In fact, between the three major UEFA tournaments (Intertoto, UEFA Cup and Champions League), there have already been 208 matches played in this European season. Since we are past our 200th match of the season, it’s now a prudent time to start looking for early winners and losers. From a league perspective, here’s the best and the worst so far.

Sweden is kicking ass
In the early rounds of Europe this year, there is one undisputed king, and it is Sweden. There are currently five Swedish sides left in European competition (1 Champions League and 4 UEFA Cup), and between them, they are undefeated in sixteen matches so far this season. Hammarby is the only first-round Intertoto Cup team still alive in the UEFA Cup, and the three other Swedish sides in the Cup dispatched their opponents in the last round by a frightening 20-1 margin. Those who take the Swedes lightly this season do so at their peril. They are tough on defense and they can score goals. What they have already accomplished is pretty incredible. Just a note – Finnish sides aren’t doing much worse, with only one loss in their 14 early European matches.

Tough times for Malta
For every nation enjoying a bit of European domination, there must be someone on the other side of the balance, and this year, the European whipping boy seems to be Malta. Maltese sides have lost all eight of their European matches so far, by a depressing total of 28 goals to 3. Where other minnows like Luxembourg and Kazakhstan have enjoyed early successes, Malta has crashed out of Europe badly, and have a long wait to lick their wounds before next season.

The UEFA Cup returns this week, with Intertoto winners like Lens and Blackburn getting their start in the tournament. It should be an interesting week.