UEFA Draws For Americans Abroad

UEFA has pulled the bouncing ping pong balls (or whatever method they use) to set up the final qualifying rounds for the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, with several Americans set to take part.

Let's begin with a look at the Champions League...

Standard Liège backline monster Oguchi Onyewu and the rest of the Belgian champs are going to mightily challenged in a home-and-home series with five-time champs Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Rangers will be forced to get past Danny Califf's former club, Danish holders Aalborg BK, with the injured DaMarcus Beasley... that is, provided they don't blow the second leg against Lithuanian mites Kaunus.

Of the match-ups not featuring a USMNT star, I am most eager to see Atlético Madrid square off against Schalke. Both clubs have been busy beavers in the summer transfer game, and new Atlético man Johnny Heitinga is one of my favorite players for his blood and guts style.

Over in the UEFA Cup, dynamic Aston Villa monster American netminder Brad duo Friedel and Guzan (who received his UK work permit today) will get to see something most of us never will: the stadium of Icelandic entrants Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar (or FH to... well pretty much everyone ever).

Califf's new club, FC Midtjylland, will face off against Manchester City, while fresh Rennes blood Carlos Bocanegra will run up against Norway's Stabæk.

Ryan Guy and Irish outfit St. Pat's have been matched up against Swedish side Elfsborg.

Hertha Berlin midfielder Bryan Arguez (who, say German reports, now has or recently had a foot in the doghouse) will hope to see action against Slovenian foe IB Ljubljana.

And by the way, if you're wondering about FC Dallas transfer topics: Kenny Coooper missed out on a duel with Djurgårdens when MLS nixed his move to Rosenborg, while Steaua Bucharest target Juan Carlos Toja still may be in uniform when the Romanian power tackles mighty Turkish side Galatasaray.

The full Champions League and UEFA Cup draws.

- Greg Seltzer


Chivas USA communications coordinator David Lindholm just gave me the heads up on a Grad Guzan tribute video they put together. Enjoy.




Ryan Guy's UEFA Cup qualifying first leg winner vs. JFK Olimps