Barcelona and the US tour

[sixer1]

Now that Barca has no shot of getting
into next year's champions league or uefa cup
through league standings or winning the CL
the only way to europe is the intertoto cup..
which made me think how that could effect
barca's summer friendlies in the US.
Barca was scheduled to play
on 7/27 vs Juventus in Boston
on 7/31 vs America in Houston
on 8/3 vs Man Utd in Philadelphia

If Barcelona is to play in the Intertoto Cup,
they would have to play on 19/26 Jul in QF, 30 Jul/6 Aug in SF and 12/26 Aug in the final
It jeopardizes all those fixtures unless they
decide not to play in the Intertoto Cup..
If Barca has to cancel those fixtures, do the
promoters have enough time to schedule another
opponet for the other sides
This could be a mute point if Barca finishes in the
top 6 of la liga, but we all know they are in trouble..

[RobtheAggie]

Barca has to first of all hope that they can secure one of the Intertoto births available for Spain. I think they are currently 13th (?). That is way to far down to secure one. Until they can secure a birth, no discussion about cancelling the US tour is necessary.

[sixer1]

intertoto cup is by invitation, if barca wants
to play in the intertoto cup they will

[ruudboy]

I love Barca and plan on coming out for the Juve game, but after yesterday, i highly doubt they would be coming, I'm sure the tour won't bring in the amount of loot the Cup will because of TV the money.

[SueB]

By invitation? Really? I've never heard of that one. I've heard of teams that qualified for the InterToto turning DOWN their invitation, thereby allowing lower-ranked teams to enter. But I've never heard of a team that didn't qualify in the standings getting a spot just because they wanted one.

[Motterman]

Originally posted by RobtheAggie
Until they can secure a birth, no discussion about cancelling the US tour is necessary.

I'd get a back-up plan, just in case, if I were a Tour promoter....

[RobtheAggie]

England is not sending any teams to the Intertoto cup this year if I remember correctly because none wanted to play. Here is the link to how the spots are picked:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/News/Kind=1/newsId=49920.html
(Allocations per country)

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/news/Kind=1/newsId=56706.html
(Barcelona confirming they will apply to enter)

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/news/Kind=1/newsId=63377.html
(The draw)

[sixer1]

let me restate that point, spain gets 1 spot
into the intertoto cup.. depending on how many clubs apply to the intertoto cup, barca could have
the highest standing in the league and the first
opportunity to get in..
as of march 1st barca has said they will apply
into the intertoto cup
it's interesting how yesterday's result now plays into the summer fixtures

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/news/Kind=1/newsId=56706.html

[RobtheAggie]

Originally posted by sixer1
let me restate that point, spain gets 1 spot
into the intertoto cup..


Actually they have two:
ESP 2 plays the winner of Hungry 1 and Cyprus 2 in the second round.
ESP 1 plays the winner of Italy 2 and Wales or Romaina 1.