Which "country" will win the UEFA Cup?

Goal.com Poll Results: An Italian Team To Win The UEFA Cup
The readers have spoken, and it is reckoned that an Italian side will claim glory in the final instalment of the UEFA Cup under its current guise... Yesterday, we asked the readers from which country they believe this season's UEFA Cup winners will come. From next season on, the UEFA Cup in its current manifestation will be no more; we will witness the inauguration of the Europa League. Therefore, some added prestige is on offer with a win in this year's competition - a tournament that has been dominated by Spain and Russia in the past five years.

However, Italy as a nation has the highest UEFA Cup pedigree, providing nine winners and six runners up throughout the history of the competition. No team from the peninsula has claimed glory in a decade though; Parma were the last Calcio exponents to win the trophy, when they trounced Marseille in Moscow in 1999. It seems, however, that the readers are convinced that this will be the year of the Italians. AC Milan are the highest profile club left in the competition and drew 1-1 in Bremen last night in the last 32 first-leg tie. Also present and correct are Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Udinese, although 'Doria are on the verge of an exit as a result of their home reverse at the hands of Metalist.

Nonetheless, it would come as no surprise to the readers of Goal.com should an Italian team claim the win in Istanbul next May. Here are the results in full:

Which Country Will Provide The UEFA Cup Winners?

Italy 38.38%
England 16.16%
Germany 13.13%
Other 13.13%
Spain 9.09%
Russia 5.05%
Netherlands 4.04%
France 1.01%

debaser wrote:Don't think England are very likely. Man City the best bet, due to easiest draw (two consecutive Danish clubs in the KOs! After getting a bye into the tournament! Absurd!), but if they're as bad away in Europe as they are in league, they'll be out soon enough.

I don't think Villa will get through in Russia - CSKA'll have the experience to see it out - while Spurs are Spurs.

Not convinced Milan will care enough. Same goes for other Italians.

I fancy Hamburg or one of the Russians/Ukranians.

Calidad wrote:If I had to pick a team now, I'd say Fiorentina. But I'm not sure really. I have to say when the draw was made I thought Spuds would be knocked out by Shaktar and Villa would possibly have been edged out by CSK.

City have easy draws and will probably make the last 8.

But then I thought Wolfsburg would do PSG and likewise with Liege Braga, so what do I know really. Any of the Portuguese lot care to say a bit about Braga?

Fey wrote:Mentalist is a pretty strong team tbh, I saw some report about them. They have like 20 training fields! For each player a whole fucking pitch.

I reckon Man City will win it, Italian teams dont take it serious.

Super Madrid wrote:What happened with Villa last night? Expected more for you guys. Figured if a english team was going to win it, it would be Aston Villa allthough the fight to keep in the Cl places would prob be strengthened by going out.

Fey wrote:Mentalist is a pretty strong team tbh, I saw some report about them. They have like 20 training fields! For each player a whole fucking pitch.

I reckon Man City will win it, Italian teams dont take it serious.

Calidad wrote:Isn't Melo a DM?

Fiorentina lack a decent CB to partner Gamberini, and I'm not sure about their RB position, but aside from that they are a decent team and unlike some of the other so called 'top' teams (Milan, Valencia) they actually play a strong lineup.

I wouldn't rule out Udinese as a dark horse either. They have a good XI on paper and are starting to show signs in a chance of form again. I imagine they will field a strong side too considering they are unlikely to make Europe next year.

Jaime wrote:I wouldn't have thought of Felipe Melo as a DM based on his play in Almeria last year. But I thought Kuzmanovic was meant to be a DM.

Calidad wrote:Fiorentina have been strongly linked with Ivanovic, who is unahppy at being 4th choice at Chelsea.

Calidad wrote:If I had to pick a team now, I'd say Fiorentina. But I'm not sure really. I have to say when the draw was made I thought Spuds would be knocked out by Shaktar and Villa would possibly have been edged out by CSK.

City have easy draws and will probably make the last 8.

But then I thought Wolfsburg would do PSG and likewise with Liege Braga, so what do I know really. Any of the Portuguese lot care to say a bit about Braga?

DS wrote:Any players to look out for Protheus ?

Fey wrote:Well ajax hardly is a top team, besides they havent won in Italy for 14 years already!

All Dutch clubs have it hard there, the last that won in Italy was Feyenoord in 2002! Cant remember against who that was though.

Fey wrote:If both teams go through, which I think is a possible. It will be Ajax-Twente!!!

Ricardo Jol wrote:

Fey wrote:If both teams go through, which I think is a possible. It will be Ajax-Twente!!!

Fey... What was the last all Dutch European game? And what happened that year...?