Mark Schwarzer the hero as Fulham motor on
Maybe autobahn training sessions are the way forward?
After getting stuck in traffic on their circuitous route to Hamburg for their Europa League semi-final, Roy Hodgson’s side engaged in a spontaneous kick-about by the side of a German motorway. If that included shooting practice against Mark Schwarzer, then it was time well spent.
The giant Australian goalkeeper was the inspiration behind yet another excellent away result for Fulham, as their European odyssey continues apace. This time it was a goalless draw, a result achieved very much in the backs to the wall, stiff upper-lip mould that they surely must have become famous for across the continent.
Hodgson seems to embody that. Here is man who seems built to achieve success with this bunch of written-off, underestimated players. If Fulham were to win the Europa League this season, it would rank alongside anything that an English club has ever achieved in Europe. That may sound a tad over-dramatic, but it’s a belief that is growing with each passing round.
Last night they held a good Hamburg side at bay. A Hamburg side that included Ruud van Nistelrooy, one of the greatest goalscorers Europe has ever witnessed, and a Hamburg side who are so desperate to get to the Europa League final, which is held on their ground on May 12th.
The Germans will never admit it, but they must have thought that they had one foot in that final when they found out that they would be playing the west Londoners in the semis. Hardly the most feared of teams across Europe, Fulham’s success is surely a greater indication of the strength of the Premier League than anything the English teams have achieved in the Champions League this season, and perhaps even greater than if Liverpool were to win the Europa League.
Fulham aren’t great to watch. They have based their progress very much on functionality rather than flair, but what’s wrong with that? Hodgson is simply using the options he has at his disposal.
One of those most important options is Bobby Zamora, who limped off with an Achilles injury after just 52 minutes last night and is already considered a major doubt for the second leg. That would be a huge blow, as Fulham appear to have no problems in stopping the opposition scoring, it’s just putting the ball in the net that’s the most difficult.
Their last three matches have all been goalless, but they’ll need to find the net at Craven Cottage next week if they are to return to Hamburg next month for what would be a remarkable achievement in reaching the Europa League final. With Schwarzer in goal, another clean sheet is achievable.
If they are to come back to northern Germany for the final, they might stop off at the side of a certain autobahn. It seems to be good luck.
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