As we often must clarify when dealing with the European NIT, there are a few different schools of thought as to what marks its start. On one purist end of things, the European NIT is always ongoing, a combination of infinite loops in which each and every action taken on the continent of Europe is, in one way or another, tied to crowning an eventual European NIT champion. On the other purist end, the tournament commences with its group stage, the stage at which it, in a spot of cosmic jest and/or providential love, has just 32 teams. In between, there are three or four dates it might start. One of those three or four was today.
Yes, today at Eighth Kilometer District Stadium (“also known as the Bakcell Arena for sponsorship purposes”, Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi, alternatively called “The Club” and literally translated to “The Football Club of Helsinki,” played Neftçi PFK to a 2-2 draw in the first leg of one of the eight two-legged qualifying round ties that will determine who gains admittance to the play-off round that will determine which ten squads make up ten of the 32 fabled spots in Europa League group play. It is the first of the eight ties to begin—the only to begin today—making it the first match that falls explicitly under the European NIT umbrella (as opposed to still affording the winner a path to the Champions League *pause for booing*), and it was a thriller, with all four goals coming in the second half as the Azerbaijanis notched the equalizer to send the series across Russia and the Baltics with at least some semblance of hope for the Boys from Baku™.
We, of course, wish both clubs luck (unless one’s really problematic or something, of course). But most of all, we wish them cheer. Because the European NIT is, for the second or infinite time this summer, underway.
