Manchester United and David Beckham face a tough Champions' League quarter-final test against Inter Milan in March when the England midfielder comes face to face with Diego Simeone, the Argentinian player involved in Beckham's sending off during last summer's World Cup finals.
Beckham was sent-off for kicking Simeone in England's France '98 defeat by Argentina in St-Etienne. Inter will also be able to call upon Ronaldo who is returning to fitness after several injuries.
United learned of their last-eight pairing today, while Chelsea - the only other remaining British interest in European competitions this season - have been drawn against Norwegian side Valerenga in the Cup-winners' Cup quarter-finals.
Edwards claims any one of United's five possible quarter-final opponents would have been difficult to beat - and he is in fact already looking forward to playing the Italian giants.
"It's a tough draw and it's a great draw in one sense because of Inter Milan's reputation," he said. "If you are going to win the European Cup you have to be prepared to play the best teams at some stage.
"Italian teams have proved in recent years that they are among the strongest in Europe, while Inter Milan are a really good side who have arguably the world's best player in Ronaldo.
"Every team in the last eight is going to cause you problems. We might have thought `let's have Kiev', who will have had a winter break, but they are a good side and then there's the problem with travelling such a big distance.
"Some people thought Olympiakos might have been a good draw, but the fans can be quite hostile out there.
"When you come through the group stages you realise it's going to be tough whoever you get and it really is an exciting prospect."
Inter president and United fan Massimo Moratti was thrilled by the quarter-final draw. The Serie A club's vice-president Gianmaria Visconti di Modrone said: "Our president Massimo Moratti will be very happy to face Manchester United.
"He's always been a fan of the Red Devils. It's just a shame that Eric Cantona is not playing anymore and so cannot take part in these matches."
Chelsea, meanwhile, will have fond memories of Scandinavia, having won the trophy in Stockholm earlier this year with a 1-0 victory over German side Stuttgart.
But they will be less keen for a repeat of their last trip to Norway when they faced Tromso in sub-zero temperatures on a snow-covered pitch. The London side lost 3-2 in Tromso, Gianluca Vialli scoring two late goals, before cruising home 7-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Manager Vialli will be pleased to have avoided cup favourites Lazio in the quarterfinals, the Italian side containing such players as Chile's Marcelo Salas having been drawn against Panionios.
Chelsea have already fared well in the current campaign against Scandinavian opposition, having beaten Helsinborg of Sweden and FC Copenhagen in the defence of their trophy.
Valerenga, who play in the 25,000 capacity Ulleval National Stadium, are coached by former Norwegian national coach Egil Olsen and have had a remarkable turn around in fortunes in recent years.
They were relegated to the second division for the 1997/98 season but not only gained promotion to the top flight at the first attempt, but also defeated Stromsgodset (who lost to Aston Villa in the UEFA Cup), 4-2 in the Norwegian Cup final.
Olsen's side currently lie seventh in the first division and are somewhat surprise quarter-finalists, having beaten fancied outsiders Besiktas of Turkey 4-3 on aggregate in the previous round.
Chelsea's first leg will be at Stamford Bridge on March 4th, with the return in Oslo a fortnight later, while United play on March 3rd at Old Trafford and at the San Siro on March 17th.
