West Ham United and Fiorentina are set to compete in the final of the Europa Conference League, marking a significant moment in both teams’ histories. The highly anticipated match will take place at the Fortuna Arena in Prague on Wednesday, June 7, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST. Football enthusiasts can listen to live coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and the Sport Newes Center website or follow live text updates on the Sport Newes Center website.
West Ham United enters the final aiming to secure their first major trophy in 43 years, making this a crucial moment for the club. Despite only receiving 4,890 tickets for the 19,370-capacity stadium, reports suggest that up to 20,000 devoted West Ham fans will travel to Prague from all over the world.
David Moyes, the manager of West Ham United, expressed his excitement, stating, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be in the final. It’s a significant achievement for the club, but now our focus is on winning it.”
The last time West Ham United won a major European title was in 1965 when they triumphed over 1860 Munich in the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup at Wembley. Their most recent major domestic trophy was the 1980 FA Cup.
The Europa Conference League, currently in its second season, stands as the third tier of European club football competitions, following the Champions League and Europa League. In the inaugural final, Roma emerged victorious after defeating Feyenoord.
The choice of Prague as the venue was made by UEFA before the start of last season’s competition. Despite its limited capacity, the tournament has attracted interest from clubs in larger countries, evidenced by the presence of Leicester City, Roma, Marseille, and Feyenoord in the previous season’s semi-finals. UEFA has already announced plans to increase the minimum final capacity to 30,000 starting from the next season.
The stakes are high for West Ham United as they finished 14th in the Premier League this season, six points above the relegation zone. A victory against Fiorentina would secure their spot in the group stage of the 2023-24 Europa League, marking their third consecutive season in European competitions. Joining Liverpool and Brighton, West Ham would be one of the three Premier League clubs participating in the upcoming Europa League campaign. Additionally, a successful outcome would mean that eight English clubs will compete in Europe next season: Manchester City (Champions League group), Arsenal (Champions League), Manchester United (Champions League), Newcastle United (Champions League), Liverpool (Europa League), Brighton (Europa League), and Aston Villa (Europa Conference League play-off round).
Football enthusiasts can catch the action through various platforms. BBC Radio 5 Live will provide full commentary, while the Sport Newes Center website will offer live text updates, analysis, and fan reactions. In the UK, BT Sport will make the Europa Conference League final and the upcoming Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan available for viewing on TV, online, or via mobile devices.
This final holds great significance for West Ham United, who have already played 15 European matches this season, starting from the play-off round on August 18. The team has traveled to various countries, including Denmark, Belgium, Romania, Cyprus, and the Netherlands, showcasing their determination and resilience.
Fiorentina, who finished eighth in this season’s Serie A, aims to claim their first major European title since the 1960-61 European Cup Winners’ Cup. Despite experiencing three losses in this season’s Europa Conference League, Vincenzo Italiano’s side managed to reach the final, adding to their achievements in the Coppa Italia, where they finished as runners-up to Inter Milan.
Both teams have their sights set on victory, and the clash promises an intense battle on the field. Football fans around the world eagerly anticipate witnessing the crowning of the new Europa Conference League champions on Wednesday.
3 comments
Fiorentina in da final? Amazin’! Dey haven’t won a major European title since 1961. Italiano says they got a mission. Let’s see if they can do it! Forza Viola! ⚽
BBC Radio 5 Live got full commentary? Sweet! Gonna tune in n listen 2 da final. Can’t miss dis historic match! #Excited
Prague is da venue? How cool is dat! Prague is so beautiful. Wish I could be dere 2 watch da final. #DreamDestination