From: S947607@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU (Pavel Nikiforovitch)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: SOVIET: Ex-Soviet clubs in European Cups
Date: 14 Sep 92 00:56:51 GMT



 Well, the first round of new EuroCups will start very soon -- on Sep-
tember 16. Four ex-Soviet teams have already played in the preliminary
round, and their results were not very bad. Only "Norma"(Tallinn, Esto-
nia), who lost to "Olimpia"(Lyublyana, Slovenia) (0:3 away and 0:2 at
home), didn't get thru to the 1st round. Actually, who can blame "Norma",
who (as well as almost all other Estonian teams) never played even in
Second Soviet League, while "Olimpia" played in Yugoslav First Division
until Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia ?

  OK, let's see how many chances to get thru to the 2nd round ex-Soviet
teams have...

                              EC1
                              ---

1.VIKINGUR(Iceland) -- CSKA(Moscow, Russia)

   CSKA were pretty good in the end of 80's -- beginning of 90's. In 1990
they were 2nd in USSR championship, and in 1991 they became the last cham
pions of the Soviet Union. In 1992 they so far: 1) lost in CIS Cup Final
to "Spartak"(Moscow) -- 0:2; 2) played not very bad in preliminary round
of Russian League, got to final round, and now are 5th there so far.
   That's not very impressive, but Icelandic teams never were serious op-
ponents in EuroCups. Also, "Vikingur" doesn't play well at all in Icelan-
dic League this year... Thus, bet on CSKA.

2.SION(Switzerland) -- TAVRIA(Simferopol, Ukraine)

   "Sion" doesn't play in Swiss league as good as it did last year, but
most football experts wouldn't probably consider first Ukrainian champi-
ons, who never (except 1981) played in Soviet Premier League, as the fa-
vorites.
   However, don't forget that "Tavria" beat "Shelbourne" in the prelimi-
nary round (0:0 away and 2:1 at home). And the win of Ukrainian League
final game over "Dinamo"(Kiev) (1:0) also shows us that "Tavria" is able
to surprise...
   Chances of "Sion"'s are better, but I bet on "Tavria".

3.PSV(Eindhoven, Holland) -- ZHALGIRIS(Vilnyus, Lithuania)

   If this game was held in 1983 - 1989, when "Zhalgiris" were one of the
best in USSR, I would have some hopes they would win. But now, although
they are still the best in Lithuania... no way ! PSV are the best in Hol-
land, and Holland is very good in EuroCups... bet on PSV...

4.LECH(Poznan, Poland) -- SKONTO(Riga, Latvia)

   While "Lech" are Polish champions and leaders of the new championship
(6 wins in a row and a draw), "Skonto" are just the modest leaders of the
Latvian League (with now pre-independence record)... Although "Skonto"
beat "Klaksvikar Itrottarfelage" in the preliminary round (3:1 away and
3:0 at home), don't forget that Faroe Islands are the new football nation
too. Bet on "Lech".

                              EC2
                              ---

1.AVENIR(Luxembourg) -- SPARTAK(Moscow, Russia)

   "Spartak" are the last Soviet Vice Champions, first CIS Cup holders
and first Russian championship current leaders... and "Avenir" is nothing
but a team from Luxembourg... bet on lucky "Spartak".

2.OLYMPIAKOS(Greece) -- CHERNOMORETS(Odessa, Ukraine)

   It's very complicated pair to predict the winner. Not because "Cherno-
morets" beat weak "FC Vaduz"(Liechtenstein) in the preliminary round (5:0
away and 7:1 at home), but because they're still good. In 1991 they were
4th in USSR, in 1992 they were 5th-6th in Ukraine (that's not that bad,
because Ukraine had several good teams in the Soviet Premier League)...
Well, "Olympiakos" were 2nd in Greece this year... but I think "Chernomo-
rets" got some chances... bet as you wish to.

                              EC3
                              ---

1.MANCHESTER UNITED(England) -- TORPEDO(Moscow, Russia)

That's easy to predict. "Torpedo" didn't even get to the Russian League
final, while "United" are now in the excellent shape (5 wins in a row in
the English League !)

2.DINAMO(Moscow, Russia) -- ROSENBORG(Norway)

"Dinamo" are now 3rd so far in Russian League, while "Rosenborg" is one
of the best in Norwegian League, too. Taking into account the fact that
Soviet clubs were usually better in EuroCups than Norwegian ones, bet on
"Dinamo", but have in mind, that Russian League level is much worse than
Soviet League level was, so that "Rosenborg" have some chances, too.

3.DINAMO(Kiev, Ukraine) -- RAPID(Wienna, Austria)

Well, "Dinamo"(Kiev) sounds very proudly, but are they still good ? Ac-
tually, they are practically the best in Ukraine (despite that acciden-
tal loss in final game with "Tavria"), while "Rapid" doesn't play very
well in Austrian League. I bet on "Dinamo", but you may bet on "Rapid",
if you think, that after the collapse of the USSR everything, including
football, is in deep s**t.