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+----- Thread: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure (/showthread.php?tid=2835)
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The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 21-06-2015
Starts tomorrow with the Europa League draw.
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 22-06-2015
FC Astra of Romania.
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 16-07-2015
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Astra Giurgiu
The UEFA Europa League - 2nd Qualifying Round
Thursday July 16th - 7:45 ko
at The Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
![[Image: dc7e00686682d24a8c7164d2b58662b7.jpg]](http://www.europlan-online.de/files/dc7e00686682d24a8c7164d2b58662b7.jpg)
The UEFA Europa League - 2nd Qualifying Round
Thursday July 16th - 7:45 ko
at The Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Match preview from BBC Sport
Summer signings Nat Wedderburn, Dani Lopez and Jordan Roberts could make their Inverness debuts against Astra.
The Highlanders take their first European steps in the second round of qualifying for the Europa League after their Scottish Cup success.
Manager John Hughes said his squad had "one or two knocks".
Defenders Josh Meekings and Carl Tremarco and midfielders Danny Williams and Aaron Doran all missed Caley Thistle's latest friendly.
Goalkeeper Dean Brill remains out with a long-term knee injury, but versatile captain Richie Foran has returned to training and is hopeful of a place on the bench.
"It's historic for us," said Hughes. "It's a massive game and hopefully we can go and perform.
"I've just got a feeling that our style of play might suit Europe."
Astra are a much changed side from the one that faced Celtic in the group stages last season, with 11 new players recruited over the summer.
Filipe Teixeira played for Petrolul Ploiesti against Astra last season before switching to the Black Devils
The team that finished fourth in Romanian Liga 1 drew with the Scottish champions at home and lost 2-1 in Glasgow.
"They're a good side and we respect them, but we are capable of beating them," added Hughes.
"Away from home, they like to counter-attack, so we need to make sure our team shape is spot on.
"They've got a few Brazilians, a few Portuguese, and those guys are technically very good.
"If we can keep a clean sheet and nick a goal then we are right in the tie."
Inverness have lost captain Graeme Shinnie as well as Marley Watkins, Edward Ofere and Nick Ross over the summer, but Hughes has faith in a largely settled, if small, squad.
"I believe in my guys and I trust them," he explained.
"I'm hoping we can dominate the football and take the game to them, but we have to keep that back door shut.
"The most important thing is to keep a clean sheet.
"In terms of character and spirit, that won't be a problem for us. No chance. It might take us 10 minutes to settle, so we just need to be cagey."
Marius Șumudica is looking forward to making his European debut as Astra head coach, the former Cluj boss who played for Maritimo and Rapid Bucharest having switched from Romanian top-flight rivals Concordia Chiajna.
"They have a style that can pose problems," the 44-year-old said of Caley Thistle. "But I think that we will be able to distinguish ourselves in this double header.
"Chances are even and the balance will tip in favour of the team who works harder to showcase their qualities and I know I have quality players."
Sumudica has brought with him five players from his former club, who finished 12th in the Romanian top flight last season.
However, the summer signing best known to British fans is Filipe Teixeira, the 34-year-old midfielder who had spells with West Bromwich Albion and Barnsley and has arrived from Petrolul Ploiesti.
Also switching from Astra's Liga 1 rivals is Brazilian 34-year-old former Benfica, AEK Athens and Steau Bucharest central defender Geraldo Alves, while former Cluj goalkeeper Ionut Bosneag has been signed from Academica.
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 16-07-2015
Boo! 23 minutes gone. Astra take the lead against the run of play.
Half time still 0-1.
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 16-07-2015
Att: 5,534.
Full time ICT 0-1 Vauxhall Astra
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - St Charles Owl - 17-07-2015
Yet another abject result in Europe for a Scottish team!!! Close enough that they can still turn the tie around but I have no faitht they will perform away in Romania!!
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 17-07-2015
Now there's a tempter! West Ham as possible opponents in the next round.
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 23-07-2015
Astra Giurgiu v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
The UEFA Europa League - 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd leg
Thursday July 23rd - 7:00 ko
at The Marin Anastasovici Stadium
![[Image: meci-astra-fc-brasov-by-Giurgiuveanul.jpg]](http://giurgiuveanul.ro/stiri/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/meci-astra-fc-brasov-by-Giurgiuveanul.jpg)
The UEFA Europa League - 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd leg
Thursday July 23rd - 7:00 ko
at The Marin Anastasovici Stadium
Match preview from BBC Sport:
Summer signing Jordan Roberts has missed Inverness Caledonian Thistle's trip to face Astra with a groin injury.
Defender Carl Tremarco and midfielder James Vincent will again miss out along with goalkeeper Dean Brill, who is a long-term absentee.
The Romanians won the first leg of the second qualifying round tie 1-0 at Caledonian Stadium.
Caley Thistle captain Richie Foran is pushing for a starting place after scoring in a friendly with Nairn.
The versatile 35-year-old Irishman was on the sidelines through injury for 16 months but played the final minutes at Caledonian Stadium in the first leg.
Astra, meanwhile, lost 5-1 at home in Liga 1 on Sunday, a win that took Targu Mureş to the top of the table after two games.
Marius Șumudica's side have yet to win domestically having lost to Mioveni in the Romanian Cup and drawn at home with Concordia Chiajna in the league.
Whoever wins on aggregate after Thursday's second leg will face either West Ham United or Maltese side Birkikara, with the English Premier League outfit having struggled to a 1-0 win in the first leg in London.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Danny Williams: "We are not going over there for a holiday.
"We want to put a performance in and get through to the next round.
"It will be tough with the heat, it's something we are not used to, but we are looking forward to it.
"This is new to me, like it is for a lot of the lads. We all couldn't wait to get back for this game.
"We worked so hard for it last season, finishing third and winning the Cup final, so we can get into Europe.
"We will go there and give 100 per cent and try to get a result."
"I thought we had the better chances. Apart from the set piece and when they hit the post, we limited their chances.
"We could have been a bit more clinical with our finishing, but it's only half-time."
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - Lord Snooty - 23-07-2015
Well that adventure didn't last long. A goalless draw tonight and out on aggregate.
RE: The Great Caley Thistle European Adventure - El Car - 23-07-2015
Tough ask tonight after a poor first leg result. No Scottish team has won in Romania yet.