UEFA InterToto Cup '98

The structure of the Intertoto Cup changes radically this year - in order to make the competition more attractive to the football associations of the top countries. In the past, some football associations like those of Italy, Spain and Portugal have rejected cup places as they believed the rewards (3 UEFA Cup places) did not match the effort required.

As before, there are 3 places in the UEFA Cup at stake but instead of the league stages used in previous years, there will be 2-leg knockout affairs at each stage - with top nations' representatives being favoured by seeding. The competition starts June 20 and continues until August 25, the finals, like last year, being part of the Qualifying Round for the UEFA Cup. Unlike previous years however, no country has more than 2 representatives in the competition.

Many thanks to Lars Arell for sending me the draw details. Explanations can be found at the bottom of the table. The clubs participating will be filled in gradually as the domestic leagues end. I've put some clubs in already but these may change as in the past, it has been known for clubs to withdraw at the last minute and others to take their place. Comments and suggestions can be mailed to me here.

• Teams from Scotland, Moldova and San Marino will not take part after their football associations forfeited their places.

• Liechenstein, Andorra and Bosnia-Herzigovina do not qualify for participation.

• Only one team from England will participate after the English FA forfeited their 2nd position in the competition - Norway take up this extra berth.
• Portugal have also forfeited one of their places. As a result, the Czech Republic gain a 2nd berth and Sweden1 a 2nd Round seeding.

• Rimavská Sobota of Slovakia take part as Greece's 2nd representatives pulled out

• Albania are still banned from participation in Europe - their place is taken up by a 2nd team from Hungary.

Intertoto Background

The new image was given a great boost by Bordeaux's progress from the Intertoto that first year to the UEFA Cup final. In the second year of the new look competition, only Karlsruher, of the 3 'winners' (Karlsruher SC, Silkeborg and Guingamp, UEFA having decided to add another UEFA cup place), made it past the UEFA Cup 1st Round, succumbing eventually to Brøndby in the 3rd Round. Last year, of the 3 French winners, Auxerre performed best being beaten by eventual finalists Lazio in the quarter finals while both Bastia and Lyonnais were knocked out the 2nd Round in what was a disappointing year for French teams in Europe in general.

Previous Years' Coverage on European Club Soccer

© 1994-1998 Colm Ó Riain