Alexander Frei - Most popular for 2008
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Fresh home from international duty this week, Maurice Edu was not expected to play for Rangers this
week against Kilmarnock. A late failed fitness test by Kevin Thopmson pressed Edu into duty as a
starter in his debut for his new club before 50,000 home fans. Fellow American DaMarcus Beasley,
also fresh back from Chicago, was also on the field as the Ibrox club found themselves down 1-0 in
the early going.
0 - The number in Frankfurt's win column (still, and I'll keep on mentioning this until Frankfurt
take note and do something about it) 5 - Difference in points between 1st (Hamburg) and 11th
(Bayern). 6 - Number of goalscorers Hamburg and Werder Bremen have in the top 12 (ie, those who
have scored at least 4 [.
We move to the second round of group play games. Group A's two opening day winners, the Czech Republic and Portugal, meet in the early game, while the two losers, Switzerland and Turkey, will look to avoid elimination in the nightcap.
Czech Republic vs. Portugal
The venue: Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland
The broadcast: ESPN2, 12:00 pm ET
The storyline: Both teams enter the game 1-0-0, but the Portuguese look far more likely to win Group A following a solid 2-0 win over Turkey.
French-speaking 20min.ch has interviewed our unfortunate top-striker, Alexander Frei. Alex, how do
you feel following the operation? A: I'm quite tired but I'm fine. I left the hospital on Saturday.
It is said that you'll be back in 10 weeks time. It's not much compared to your 6-month long
recovery.
In front of the press Alexander Frei could barely withhold a flow of tears:
"My dream has been crushed. I have to admit that I've cried a lot for the past two days".
"I'm not far from believing that my first 43 minutes on Saturday were my best with the Nati".
Here's why neutral fans should watch this game:
You shouldn't. Over on the other side we have a potential bombshell of a match which could, due
to a series of tiebreakers, go to penalties in the event that it stands even after the end of the
first 90. Penalties in the group stages? Now that's an important game and one with potential
fireworks (I think the defense of the Czech Republic will stifle Turkey while poaching a goal
somewhere along the way putting penalties irrelevant, but that point is neither here nor there -
unless you enjoy gambling on other people's predictions).
1. Nuremberg complete relegation double. Schalke scored two goals. Schalke almost scored two own
goals. In between Nuremberg squandered their chances, like they squandered their chances all
season. Eventually those were Nuremberg's final 90 minutes in the Bundesliga. Nuremberg are now in
sole possession of two less than flattering relegation records.
As Holland and Italy gear up for their opening Group C match against each other, both teams are
suffering from fresh injury setbacks. As reported earlier in the week, Italy's leader Fabio
Cannavaro is out. Robin van Persie has been ruled out for the Dutch as well. Today, fans of Holland
will be devastated to find out that Arjen Robben has now been ruled out due to injury.
Czech Republic 1-0 Switzerland
So, not a bad game to kick off the tournament. The Swiss may not be one of the favoured teams, but they gave a good account of themselves overall, despite the loss. The Czechs took a while to get going, and although they had more quality than their opponents, I'd say they were lucky to come away with a win, and they needed a few good saves from Petr Cech to keep them in the game.
Schalke's 3-3 draw with hated local rivals Borussia Dortmund this weekend was a Shakespearean
affair in just about all the senses of that adjective.
There was certainly history. The Blues may hold the slight all-time head-to-head advantage over
Borussia, but as any Dortmund fan will tell you, the men in yellow have won a league title in the
past half-century, whereas Schalke haven't.
