I wrote this post last week for Soccerfanbase, but as it could not be posted, due to server issues, I thought I might as well post it here!
I haven't had much time to blog my usual drivel, and I don't know if I'll get the time to do so before I return to England next week, but I'll try to write at least one post, before I leave, 'try' being the operative word! :)
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They've been loads of amazing football stories this season, good and bad. Newly-promoted Birmingham on-course to remain in the Premier League for another season, possibly as high as 9th- amazing. Liverpool struggling for anything resembling the form they were in last season and will probably end up outside the Top 4- shocker. Leeds knocking Manchester United out of the FA cup in the 3rd round, at old Trafford- special. Portsmouth, relegated and broke, getting to the FA Cup final against all odds- the stuff of dreams.
So many more unbelievable stories this season, but the best of all, unquestionably has to be the achievements of Fulham FC. No, not their performance in the Premier League; they've been unspectacular at best. But their achievements in Europe- the Europa League- have been spectacular. How?
Fulham have only ever qualified for Europe twice in their history, the second time being this season, after finishing 7th in the Premier League last season which was a huge achievement in itself. Thier European achievement started against FK Vėtra, a Lithuanian football club, in the 3rd qualifying round. They won that 6-0 on aggregrate. No sweat. Then on to the play-offs, where they saw off Russian club FC Amkar Perm, 3-2 on aggregate.
In the group stages, they were in Group E with Roma, FC Basel and CSKA Sofia. Getting to the knock-out round was not easy, and they had to rely on a win away to FC Basel on the last day. Things looked on track after Boby Zamora put them 2-0 up at half-time, but Basel came out fighting in the second half, and even though Fulham went 3-1 up, Basel pulled it back to 3-2 with about 3 minutes left. But Fulham held on for the crucial win, seeing them into the knock-out stages.
When the draw for the knock-out rounds was made, it was widely-held that Fulham would not make it as they had been paired with Shakhtar Donetsk (current UEFA cup holders) in the round of 32, with the possibility of facing either Juventus or Ajax in the round of 16, both clubs with pedigree in Europe. Not an easy task, and it would not have been a shame, losing to any of those teams.
So Fulham beat Shakhtar 3-2 on aggregate (a home win and an away draw) to go through to the last-16 where they faced Juventus. A huge task this, which only got bigger after losing the away leg 3-1. Meaning they had to win the home leg at Craven Cottage by a margin of 3. And with Juventus scoring inside 2 minutes, it looked like curtains. Zamora equalised shortly after, and when Trezeguet was sent off in the first half, Fulham could sense an opportunity. A couple of goals by Gera in each half, and suddenly, Fulham only needed one more goal to go through. Juventus were holding on gamely, and it took a beauty by Clint Dempsey in the 82nd minute to put them through. Unbelievable result, and unbelievably, Fulham were in the quarter-finals!
Wolfsburg were their quarter-finals opposition, with the possibility of facing Hamburg or Standard Liege. Fulham beat Wolfsburg 2-1 at home, but with the away goal, Wolfsburg had the advantage. But a Bobby Zamora goal in the first minute away at Wolfsburg ensured Fulham won the tie 3-1 on aggregate, setting up a semi-final meeting with Hamburg.
With the final meant to be held at the HSH Nordbank Arena, Hamburg's home ground, Fulham were clearly the underdogs. The away leg was first, endind 0-0. Fulham have an amazing home record in European competition, unbeaten in 15 at this stage, so that ought to have given them some confidence. But with main striker Bobby Zamora struggling with an achilles injury, it seemed like a game too far for the club and this feeling only intensfied after Mladen Petric gave Hamburg the lead with a stunning free-kick. But if there's anything we've learned from Fulham in Europe this season, it is that they are fighters. 2 quick goals in 10 minutes gave Fulham the lead with about 15 minutes to go. With a place in the finals at stake, and a major piece of Fulham history about to be written, Fulham held on.
So Fulham FC in the finals of the Europa League, in only their second-ever season in Europe! Magical. Amazing feat this, and it was only fitting that they were able to enjoy the moment in front of the Fulham faithful at Craven Cottage. They were unfancied at the start and rightly so, but they defied the odds to make it to the finals on their own merit, where they will face Atletico Madrid at the Nordbank Arena. Who would have thought it, that Fulham would be England's sole representative in Europe at this stage? Unbelievable. Huge credit to Roy Hodgson who has transformed Fulham since he took over in 2007, and I am pretty sure no one -not even Fulham's most intense rivals- would begrudge the team and the manager, were they to win the Europa League. There is no question who the Manager of the Season ought to be this season, and if it turns out to be anyone other than Roy Hodgson, they would be an underserved winner.
Make no mistake they are massive underdogs for the trophy, but come the 12th May, every football fan in England will (and should) be rooting for Fulham, and it would be the perfect ending to this fairy tale, were they to lift the trophy on that night.
Come on Fulham, the whole of England is behind you!
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