DN, one of the biggest newspapers in Sweden, writes today that the scandinavian clubs will create an own big tournamtent called Royal League and that the best 4 clubs of Denmark, Norway and Sweden will fight for the trophy and 10 million swedish kronor. The new league will start on november 4th 2004 with 3 groups which consist of the 4 best teams of every league. The first and the second of every group will go to the next stage where there will be 2 groups with the remaining teams of each country. This stage will start in the middle of february. The groupwinners will then meet in the final some weeks before allsvenskan starts. Just like in the Champions League clubs will get money for every point and taking part in the tournament. Here is the link: http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=647&a=195393&previousRenderType=6 Post your thoughts!
hmmmm Accoring to a friend of mine in Sweden, they don't consider Finland to be part of Scandinavia. Not sure the history behind that fact, but I've heard it elsewhere, as well. As far as the competition, sounds interesting, but with all the debate about a crowded soccer calendar worldwide, it kind of surprises me. It would sure be fun, though! Kinda scared me for a minute, though. I thought you were implying an end to the Allsvenskan and all the other premierships in Scandinavia. This is more a tournament, like the Champions "League" I suppose. I like the idea, but again, we'll see what FIFA has to say about this all, if anything.
The Fins speak a language completely different from the rest of Scandinavia, similar to Hungarian. I guess that’s the reason they’re not always considered part of Scandinavia. The reasons for and against keeping the traditional link between nations and leagues have been discussed in a couple of threads. If someone wants I can find them for you.
This tournament idea has come up to shorten the off-season in Scandinavia which is much longer than anyhwere else in Europe. Our season goes from mid-April to early November due to our cold climate. I have no clue where these games are going to be held. Outdoor soccer in Norway in January-February is impossible. PS: Nordic countries - Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Scandinavia - Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/sports/article.jhtml?articleID=657650 This is a friggin great idea.
GOOD IDEA This certainly is a good idea, hopefully this will get a BENELUX, IBERIAN and AUSTROSWISS following. But for me it must be a first stap to a real Scandinavian League.
Re: GOOD IDEA I think they stand a better chance of a Scandi league then any other league. I noticed your location as Rotterdam...come on over and join us in the Netherlands boards as well.
UEFA doesn’t allow joint leagues. If you want to have a national team, and if you want your clubs to compete in Europe you have to have a national league.
Everyone's got the skinny about Scandinavia/Nordic. It seems like a good idea, but the money involved? If they win that, they can buy an aging Brazilian.
If there is interest in the scandinavian countries the money will go up. The real question is weather or not fans want to see FC København vs Djurgården or people would rather see brøndby vs Esbjerg. And do swedish fans really care when their club is playing a danish or norwegian club? Time will tell but I think it is a good idea. I for my part will do anything to support whatever swedish or norwegian club playing against FC København
On a national level yes- but this is club football. More rivalry within the country. But maybe the Denmark Sweden game in Portugal will make the interest grow
The so called Alpine League is basically dead. The interest was much more Austrian than Swiss and UEFA/FIFA would not have allowed it. There is talk of a Cup format like the one that will happen in Scandanavia.
Well I think most danish fans are talking about it would be so cool to trounce a swedish team.... but when thay are played I think not many cares. I think the big question will be how people are gonna find out about the matches. I don't know how it is in sweden and Norway but in Denmaerk you have no chance of hearing about the matches before after they are played unless you are a core fan (and thats one of the main reasons of the low gates in Denmark, from my point of view)
In my eyes, a Danish club will never trounce a Swedish team. I think the Swedes have a stronger league, Norway even stronger than that. Perhaps a tournament like this can spark a rivalry?
I don't know much about the swedish league or Norwegian but from a Danes view it somehow seems that the we aim to atract swedish and Norwegian stars at our league. Look at Martin Eriksson just bought to Aab, The swedish champions Djurgården couldn't match the danish offer. Considering how many Swedish and Norwegians nationals played in Danish league the last 5 years compared to danish nationals playing in sweden or norway the past 5 years I would say that theoretically the danish league should be much stronger but I know that somehow when danish teams play international matches they don't manage well (besides when playing german squads).
Well Rosenborg has a class for themselves, the problem is just that it makes the Norwegian league totally boring. Lets hope that Brann from Bergen and the Oslo clubs learns to be more consistent.
Quote: "I think the Swedes have a stronger league" ----------------- How did you get that idea ??... Take a look at the official UEFA rankings this season and see if you can find Sweden .... http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/ccoef04.html
Well one thing is sure and that is Swedish clubs have higher attendances. But i must partially agree with Ceres. Danish clubs are somehow not able to show their true potential in international matches (maybe it's somekind of complex) but Look at the players in the Danish League. Magnus Jonsson, Alvaro Santos, Erik Mykland, Martin Eriksson and really many others. At least on the paper the danish league are stronger than the other Nordic leagues.