Europa League preview: Fulham v Hamburg
As Inter Milan proved last night at the Nou Camp, raw determination, passion and heart can often prove imperative in reaching the final of a European cup competition. Tonight it’s Fulham’s turn to produce a similar performance - against a team currently in turmoil.
On Monday, Hamburg sacked their manager, Bruno Labbadia, following a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Hoffenheim a day earlier. It’s now the job of assistant coach Ricardo Moniz to transform the team’s recent fortunes and guide them into next month’s final, at the expense of this season’s Europa League success story.
Just 90 minutes and an unpredictable Hamburg side now stand in the way between the Cottagers and a place in their first major European final. Roy Hodgson’s men have performed exceptionally well throughout their remarkable Europa League campaign to reach the semi-finals; but the Fulham manager won’t be satisfied unless his players secure their spot in the showpiece final.
"It is an outstanding achievement, and I take a lot of pride in that," Hodgson said. "But we are all determined not to fail at this stage and to take the ultimate step to the final, rather than go out as gallant losers."
If Fulham are to seal their place in the final – due to be contested at Hamburg’s HSH Nordbank Arena – they may have to do so without the man who has kept their Europa League dream alive.
Every one of Bobby Zamora’s six European goals this season have been crucial in helping the Cottagers reach this stage of the competition, and Hodgson is sweating on the fitness of his star striker as he attempts to recover from an Achilles problem.
The Fulham boss compared losing the services of Zamora to Manchester United losing Wayne Rooney, or Liverpool being without Steven Gerrard. Before the start of this season, that would have sounded like the ramblings of a madman; but the former Tottenham Hotspur striker has proved his critics wrong this season, and now stands on the cusp of a call-up to England’s World Cup squad.
Rated as a “major doubt” for tonight’s clash, it would be immensely cruel on the 29-year-old if he were to miss out on the biggest game of his career, having played such an instrumental role in each of the previous rounds.
Most of Fulham’s spectacular exploits in this season’s Europa League have come at Craven Cottage. From their 3-2 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Round of 32, to their breathtaking 4-1 win over Juventus in the last 16, the cosy west-London ground has become somewhat of a fortress for the Premier League side.
The way they disposed of German champions Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals will also concern Hamburg, whose run to the semi-finals has been relatively straight-forward compared to that of Fulham. The Cottagers won both legs, thanks to goals from Zamora in both matches, and will fancy their chances going into this evening’s fixture.
However, there is always an element of the unknown when clubs enter a fixture with a new manager in tow. Although it’s rare for a change in management to be made just before a vital European semi-final, there is a risk for Fulham tonight that the Hamburg players will be galvanized by the switch – ready to fight for not only themselves, but also their temporary boss.
Throughout this campaign, the Cottagers have always carried the plucky underdog tag. But for the first time, tonight, this label will fall on the Germans, instead - something which could potentially work against Fulham.
There’s big danger for the English side, not the least because of the fact that one away goal would mean Fulham will have to find two. After failing to score in Germany, the onus will fall on the Fulham defence to put in another commanding display to thwart the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy for another 90 minutes.
One lapse in concentration, one mistake, and Fulham could well find themselves punished. Hodgson, though, will need to set his stall out in the normal attacking manner to ensure his side aren’t caught out by a potentially-catastrophic away goal. Needing at least two goals this evening to give themselves some breathing space, Clint Dempsey’s return from injury could hardly have come at a better time.
Fulham are on the brink of making history, and have the ideal opportunity to do so tonight. With a solid team, a tactically-adept manager and a support base hungry for a European final, the Cottagers should have enough about them to edge past their German counterparts, but must guard against complacency to ensure they do.
Prediction: Fulham 2 Hamburg 1
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