There are plenty of Americans still involved in the UEFA Europa League, but none will play against each other until the knockout stage at the earliest after Friday's draw revealed this season's 12 groups.
Jozy Altidore has been on fire as of late, and his AZ Alkmaar has a favorable outlook in Group G. Jonathan Spector's Birmingham City, on the other hand, got placed in a balanced Group H that includes 2011 Europa League runner-up Braga, Club Brugge and Maribor, the team that ended Rangers' hopes on Thursday.
Fulham's return to the Europa League group stage pits Clint Dempsey's team in Group K along with Dutch power FC Twente.
Brad Friedel's Tottenham and Atletico Madrid each figure to have strong showings in the tournament, but each also drew tough group assignments. Atletico drew Udinese and Stade Rennes in Group I, while Spurs must contend with Rubin Kazan in Group A. Group games begin on Sept. 15
Here are the groups for the 2011-2012 Europa League:
2011-2012 EUROPA LEAGUE GROUPS (teams with Americans in bold)
GROUP A – Tottenham, Rubin Kazan, PAOK FC, Shamrock Rovers
GROUP B – FC Copenhagen, Standard Liege, Hannover 96, FC Vorskla Poltava
GROUP C – PSV Eindhoven, Hapoel Tel Aviv, FC Rapid Bucuresti, Legia Warsaw
GROUP D – Sporting Clube de Portugal, Lazio, FC Zurich, FC Vaslui
GROUP E – Dynamo Kyiv, Besiktas, Stoke City, Maccabi Tel Aviv
GROUP F – Paris-St. Germain, Athletic Bilbao, FC Salzburg, SK Slovan Bratislava
GROUP G – AZ Alkmaar, FC Metalist Kharkiv, FK Austria Wien, Malmo FF
GROUP H – SC Braga, Club Brugge, Birmingham City, Maribor
GROUP I – Atletico Madrid, Udinese, Stade Rennes, FC Sion
GROUP J – Schalke 04, FC Steaua Bucuresti, Maccabi Haifa, AEK Larnaca
GROUP K – FC Twente, Fulham, Odense BK, Wislaw Krakow
GROUP L – Anderlecht, AEK Athens, FC Lokomotiv Moscow, SK Sturm Graz
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Which group do you think is toughest? How do you see the teams with Americans faring?
Share your thoughts below.
Aupa Atleti!
it seems to me you haven’t been paying attention to the yanks abroad posts. in two starts he’s bagged two braces, and a goal just after coming on as a sub in his first game. that ain’t half bad
Group I has to be the toughest group
He has 5 goals in a little over 200 minutes. Maybe your standards are too high?
OK – so the goals he has scored as of late, have mostly been “sitters” – but that’s what a quality striker is supposed to do – make it look easy. What about the goal against Spain in the Confed Cup – he pretty much put Iker Casillas’ wrist in a cast, and before he fired that cruise misslie past Casillas, he put the judo – Ai-ki-do slam on his defender and then cocked it in his wheelhouse…… Or the goal he scored against Gaudeloupe, upper corner blast – guided missile from outside, the box. The “lad” is merely 21 – fine wines mellow with age.
International Goals – since 18 y/o
01. February 6, 2008 Reliant Stadium, Houston, USA Mexico
2 – 1
2 – 2
Friendly
02. September 10, 2008 RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., USA Cuba
5 – 1
6 – 1
Q 2010 World Cup
03. March 28, 2009 Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador El Salvador
1 – 2
2 – 2
Q 2010 World Cup
04. April 1, 2009 LP Field, Nashville, USA Trinidad and Tobago
1 – 0
3 – 0
Q 2010 World Cup
05.
2 – 0
06.
3 – 0
07. June 24, 2009 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa Spain
1 – 0
2 – 0
2009 Confederations Cup
08. September 5, 2009 Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, USA El Salvador
2 – 1
2 – 1
Q 2010 World Cup
09. May 29, 2010 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA Turkey
1 – 1
2 – 1
Friendly
10. October 9, 2010 Soldier Field, Chicago, USA Poland
1 – 0
2 – 2
Friendly
11. June 7, 2011 Ford Field, Detroit, USA Canada
1 – 0
2 – 0
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
12. June 14, 2011 Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas City, USA Guadeloupe
1 – 0
1 – 0
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Why is Jozy Altidore “on fire?” I mean I saw those two goals he scored last game and yes, he had a good header but the other one was pretty much a tap in. I still have rarely, if ever, seen him score a blast like that kid in the Houston game, last week.
And, two goals after essentially years of not doing much at all, seems promising, but I personally wouldn’t say he was “on fire.”
I think Brek Shea is on fire right now here in the MLS; scoring goals, being agressive, making key plays. I have never really seen that from Jozy.
Do people agree or disagree with me?
Yeah, that made me laugh. q
+1
If my work schedule cooperates, I will get a chance to see Friedel in live action. It is very difficult group for PAOK, but our guys will give it a go!
you say lol too much – especially at things that aren’t funny – you should die lol
Gooch is not going to get a minute lol…. Polga, Carrico, and Mr. Rodriguez have it on lock. Although injuries occur lol
Good signs for American soccer
my observations…
1 – this has got to be the most Yanks we have ever had in the competition
2- there are a handful of seriously obscure teams here.
Beside Birmingham City, I like most of their chances of advancing. Although Birmingham still has a pretty good shot.
Friedel plays for Tottenham