Thursday, April 29, 2010

Live - Europa League semi-finals

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

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By Caroline Cheese

From Simon, Fulham, via text: "Slightly concerned to see John Pantsil line up at right back, Baird has been heroic this year despite his clear limitations and faults, can't help but feel the rustiness of Pantsil may cost us."

From Sea Hoke Drama on 606: "I have it on good authority from none other that Platini himself that next year the tournament is being renamed the Bobby Zamora Cup."

From Jimmy, Chelsea fan, via text: "All I want is extra time!"

1938: TEAM NEWS Fulham v Hamburg
Bobby Zamora is named up front for Fulham despite being rated as a "major doubt" with an Achilles injury. Of the rest of the starting line-up only Mark Schwarzer, John Pantsil and Brede Hangeland played in the Premier League match against Everton. But Pantsil's inclusion at the expense of the suspended Chris Baird is the only change from the team that emerged with a 0-0 draw from the Nordbank Arena. Clint Dempsey, who came off the bench to score the winner when Juventus were beaten at Craven Cottage in March, is among the substitutes. Hamburg stand-in coach Ricardo Moniz brings in Robert Tesche for the suspended Piotr Trochowski, while Mladen Petric is fit again so Jose Guerrero drops to the bench.

1934: Bobby Zamora is the third highest scorer in the Europa League this season, his six putting him three behind Oscar Cardozo (Benfica) and Claudio Pizarro (Werder). According to Opta, Zamora and Zoltan Gera have had a hand (ie either scored or provided the assist) in all but two of Fulham's 15 European goals since December.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty at Craven Cottage: "Fulham stand on the brink of history at Craven Cottage tonight - but the noisy following from Hamburg know they are also in sight of playing a major European final on home soil. Bobby Zamora will start for Fulham, and a man familiar with English opposition has just received a rousing reception from Hamburg's fans, namely Ruud van Nistelrooy. He may not be the master marksman of old, but will still pose a huge threat to Fulham."

1925: TEAMS Fulham v Hamburg
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Gera, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Dempsey, Smalling, Greening, Dikgacoi.
Hamburg: Rost, Aogo, Mathijsen, Boateng, Demel, Pitroipa, Ze Roberto, Jarolim, Tesche, Petric, van Nistelrooy. Subs: Hesl, Rozehnal, Guerrero, Berg, Arslan, Rincon, Schulz.
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)

From DannyGorman_89 on Twitter: "Re 1918: Cheesy, how weak is that Liverpool bench? Hopefully that won't matter though, c'mon Liverpool!"

From anon via text: "Cheesy, it's me, you and a French oral presentation (to be learnt for my GCSE tomorrow) to see through what could be the best moment in Fulham's history and Liverpool's last chance at coming out of this season with any form of dignity... I am a Liverpool fan. Shame."

1920: TEAM NEWS Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
Liverpool make two changes to their starting line-up from last week's first leg as Sotiros Kyrgiakos is replaced by Alberto Aquilani - with Javier Mascherano dropping into the back four - and Ryan Babel comes in for the injured David Ngog, while Dirk Kuyt is fit to start. There are two changes for Atletico - star striker Sergio Aguero returns from suspension and Alvaro Dominquez is preferred to Tomas Ujfalusi at centre-back.

1918: TEAMS Liverpool v Atletico Madrid
Liverpool: Reina, Mascherano, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Lucas, Benayoun, Aquilani, Babel, Kuyt. Subs: Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Degen, El Zhar, Ayala, Pacheco.
Atletico Madrid: De Gea, Valera, Dominguez, Perea, Antonio Lopez, Reyes, Paulo Assuncao, Raul Garcia, Simao, Aguero, Forlan. Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Camacho, Jurado, Salvio, Juanito, Ujfalusi, Cabrera.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)

1917: Right, before I forget, BBC Sport's World Cup photo album is up and running, and looking brillo. But while Kuyt, Reina and Gerrard are on the 'got' list, we still need Schwarzer, Dempsey and Etuhu, among others. If you haven't pinged us a pic of yourself with a World Cup star of 2010 yet - send 'em in! Email us snaps of yourself with players and head coaches to worldcupphotoalbum@bbc.co.uk, or send them to us via Flickr, but check the BBC terms and conditions first. THANKS!

From Pickles91 on 606: "Liverpool to win 2-0. Rafa is brilliant in Europe, no matter how bad he can be he knows how to get it done in semis. As for Fulham they'll never get a better chance. Hamburg are in absolute turmoil right now sacking your manager just before a Uefa semi is a huge gamble."

From redandblackT on 606: "The only thing missing from the knockout stages of European football this season is a good old fashioned nail biting penalty shootout and I fancy we'll get one tonight!"

1908: Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Alberto Aquilani and Yossi Benayoun all start for Liverpool tonight, so it does look like a line-up with plenty of attacking intent. Liverpool will be wary of conceding an away goal though, especially with Sergio Aguero back in the Atletico team. Full teams to follow.

From Robi1993 on Twitter: "Re 1855: A positive selection by Rafa. Good to see Kuyt start, even though he hasn't trained too much this week. Can't wait."

From Sakaria2 on 606: "Looking at the two semi-finals, we have a great chance to have an all English final. To be honest, I would say Fulham are more likely to get there, as I can't see Liverpool scoring. Saying that, there still is a chance."

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty tweeting from Craven Cottage: "Great atmosphere down by the Thames as fans mingle outside Craven Cottage for Europa League semi-final."

1901: Hamburg have prepared for the second leg against Fulham in time-honoured fashion by sacking their coach, Bruno Labbadia. That may sound like good news for Fulham, but amid rumours that Labbadia had 'lost' the dressing room and following a disastrous 5-1 defeat at Hoffenheim, it might also turn out to be just the tonic Hamburg needed. We shall see...


1855: Confirmed: Bobby Zamora starts for Fulham, and it does look like Javier Mascherano will be in defence for Liverpool.

1852: Times reporter Oliver Kay tweeted earlier today that Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez could play Javier Mascherano at right-back and Glen Johnson at left-back. Again, we have no confirmation of teams, but if true, that would appear to be quite a gamble.

1849: Well, of course it's a coincidence, but quite a neat one, wouldn't you say? Liverpool trail 1-0 after the away leg against Atletico Madrid; Fulham and Hamburg are goalless as they prepare for the second leg at Craven Cottage. No news on Bobby Zamora and his troublesome Achilles, nor David Ngog and his dodgy hamstring. I should imagine one of those bits of team news might be more pressing than the other.

1845: Tonight, Liverpool and Fulham bid to make the first Europa League final on 12 May an all-English affair. The first Uefa Cup final in 1972 was between Tottenham and Wolves. Coincidence?

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