Potential opponents in second round draw tomorrow:

Very disappointing bunch in terms of excitement for new season.  If I had a choice why not go to Belarus as I love their best female tennis player Victoria Azarenka.  

It’s gonna be something bland like Sligo 

If it's Belarus, will we need to travel by land if EU airlines are boycotting their airspace and their airlines are banned from EU airspace?

The Lithuanian team looks easiest. Hacken could be tricky, as they will be in the middle of their football season and will be fresher, but currently bottom of the Swedish league.

1 hour ago, Slim said:

If it's Belarus, will we need to travel by land if EU airlines are boycotting their airspace and their airlines are banned from EU airspace?

The Lithuanian team looks easiest. Hacken could be tricky, as they will be in the middle of their football season and will be fresher, but currently bottom of the Swedish league.

Everyone of the potential opponents plays summer football so not the greatest list of opponents. Sligo and Tobol are currently 2nd in their respective leagues so would really like to avoid them. Any travel to Belarus is painful in normal times but as you say just now it would be a logistical nightmare so that would be one to avoid as well. 

BK Hacken with first round at home.

4 minutes ago, Jute said:

BK Hacken with first round at home.

Return trip to Gothenburg ?

So either i misunderstood things or UEFA moved the goalposts again as St Johnstone are not guaranteed group stage euro football. Only advantage is apparently they will be seeded if they end up in the Conference league playoffs.....but I won't be surprised if UEFA change that.

Anyway Hacken currently bottom of the Swedish league with 6 points from a possible 24.

Nice compact stadium (6500 capacity (2000 standing)) with the customary astroturf


 

What are the chances do people think of supporters being allowed to attend any of the two games??  

Doesn't seem to be any standout players in their squad although Martin Olsson played at a high level in England and is currently in the Sweden Euro 2020 squad.

Edited June 16, 20215 yr by Slim

One of Finnish squad in Euros plays for them.

David Preece who coaches out there comments on them are below. 
 

 

17 minutes ago, Jute said:

One of Finnish squad in Euros plays for them.

David Preece who coaches out there comments on them are below. 
 

 

For a tie at this stage, it’s about as difficult as we could get.

Swedish so no mugs

Home first

Their mid season.

They have representation at Euro 2020.

Not the tie we’d have picked, that’s for sure, especially with them in mid-season. 

 

I always prefer to play home first. Keep a clean sheet at home and you can go into the 2nd leg knowing for every goal you score, they need to score more. Nothing worse than defending a 1 goal lead at home in the 2nd leg.

And if you get humped in the 1st leg at home, you can try to change your flights to go to Tenerife instead.

1 hour ago, RedStarTorphins said:

For a tie at this stage, it’s about as difficult as we could get.

Swedish so no mugs

Home first

Their mid season.

They have representation at Euro 2020.

Not the tie we’d have picked, that’s for sure, especially with them in mid-season. 

 

Aye think the Kazakhstan team would have been only one that was a worse option. 

57 minutes ago, Jute said:

Aye think the Kazakhstan team would have been only one that was a worse option. 

In terms of distance & travel, not playing-wise. 

2 hours ago, RedStarTorphins said:

For a tie at this stage, it’s about as difficult as we could get.

Swedish so no mugs

Home first

Their mid season.

They have representation at Euro 2020.

Not the tie we’d have picked, that’s for sure, especially with them in mid-season. 

 

How remiss of me…

I meant “they’re” mid-season above, not “their”

56 minutes ago, RedStarTorphins said:

In terms of distance & travel, not playing-wise. 

Second in their league currently so suspect they might be similar standard to Almaty side that put us out a few years back.

Can somebody confirm to me that we ain't allowed to attend game in Sweden.

Players are allowed, fans are not.

Slim, am I right in saying UEFA had made the decision quite soon after the draw?  I was just thinking about the uproar regarding these 2,500 VIP's allowed to attend Wembley for Euro 2020 Final less than three weeks before our tie in Sweden.  

VIP'S

Need we say any more ? 

Plebs don't play by the same rules.

It's been like that since day one of the pandemic so I don't see what's so special about it happening at the Euros. Two weeks ago Boris and his wife were faffing around a luxury resort in Cornwall with a bunch of politicians at the G7 summit who didn't have to quarantine.

7 hours ago, sancho_panza said:

It's been like that since day one of the pandemic so I don't see what's so special about it happening at the Euros. Two weeks ago Boris and his wife were faffing around a luxury resort in Cornwall with a bunch of politicians at the G7 summit who didn't have to quarantine.

And journalists and various other hangers-on and which caused a huge spike in infections in the St. Ives area but Spaffer isn't one to pay any attention to the data when he can be on TV glad-handing other (k)nobs.

No away goals too right??  

Sky Sports are saying UEFA have confirmed that away goals will not apply from this coming season.

On 16/06/2021 at 18:06, Jute said:

Second in their league currently so suspect they might be similar standard to Almaty side that put us out a few years back.

Don't know where you got that info from but they are currently bottom of the Swedish league after 8 matches.