Intertoto Cup: A Brief History of Inter Milan''s Continental Adventure

In the summer of 1999, Internazionale Milano, commonly known as Inter Milan, embarked on a continental adventure that would last for five years. The Italian giant won the inaugural Intertoto Cup, a European football competition created by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) in 2000.

The Intertoto Cup was designed to provide teams with valuable match practice ahead of the upcoming season. The tournament featured 48 teams from across Europe, divided into four groups of six teams each. Inter Milan, led by coach Marcello Lippi, entered the competition as one of the favorites, boasting a strong squad featuring players.html">players like Marco Zago, Youri Djorkaeff, and Andrea Pirlo.

After a grueling group stage, Inter Milan emerged as winners of Group A, with seven points from four matches. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Turkish outfit Gaziantepspor 2-1 on aggregate. The semifinals saw them overcome Belgian side Club Brugge 3-2 in extra time.

The final pitted Inter Milan against French club Rennes. The match was played at the Stadio Renato Dall''Ara in Bologna, Italy, and it ended with a 1-0 victory for the Nerazzurri, courtesy of an early goal from Argentine striker Juan Sebastián Verón.

Inter Milan''s Intertoto Cup triumph marked their first major continental success since winning the European Cup (now Champions League) in 1964. The victory served as a springboard for the club''s subsequent European campaigns, including two consecutive UEFA Cup (now Europa League) appearances and a Champions League quarterfinal finish in 2003.

Although the Intertoto Cup has since been discontinued, Inter Milan''s winning experience continues to inspire generations of Italian football enthusiasts. The Nerazzurri have maintained their continental ambitions, participating in European competitions and vying for major honors.