|
|
Why FK Rabotnicki beating Liverpool would be one of European football's biggest shocks
Reds begin continental campaign in Macedonia
29 Jul 2010 08:24:00
By Andy Brassell
When Liverpool's players take the field at the Philip II stadium in the Macedonian capital Skopje to face FK Rabotnicki on Thursday evening, the biggest threat to their Europa League future will be the sentiment that they are taking part in a prestige friendly, so unused are the five-time champions of Europe to such an abrupt start to their continental campaign.
Reds fans may be thankful on this occasion that they have in Roy Hodgson a coach so well versed in the backwaters of European football. Liverpool are not the only giants having to get their hands dirty in the competition's third qualifying round - Juventus, Olympiakos and Galatasaray will also be kicking off their respective European seasons this week.
The home side need no reminder of the context, even if Liverpool's arrival has come round quite suddenly. Since last week's second qualifying round success against Armenian side Mika, a joyous Rabotnicki have been scrambling to ready themselves for this plum tie.
Work on the south stand of the Philip II stadium was originally slated to be finished in early August, but the draw against the men from Anfield saw work accelerated to allow an increase to 20,000 capacity for Thursday's game. Tickets went on sale this week for 300 Denars - just over £4.
From an onfield perspective, Rabotnicki are as prepared as they could be. This is already their fifth European match of the season, having given Andorran minnows Lusitanos an 11-0 aggregate bashing in the first qualifying round before facing Mika.
Coach Zoran Stratev's side had to overcome considerable adversity to get here. They played over half of the first leg against Mika in Skopje with ten men after Brazilian defender Fernando Lopes was sent off for a professional foul. This turned out to be part of a pivotal few moments in the match - Edilson crashed the resulting free-kick against the post for the visitors and their best chance of the match had come and gone.
Rabotnicki hung on and another of the squad's six-strong Brazilian contingent, Wandeir, hit the only goal of the tie three minutes from time with a smart near-post finish. Wandeir is fairly typical of his compatriots in the group. He arrived in Macedonia in 2002 (Rabotnicki is the third Skopje club he has played for) and is again in the Macedonian First League, having had short and unsuccessful spells in Germany, Portugal and Romania.
Now 30, Wandeir previously starred with Vardar, the country's true historical footballing power as the sole Macedonian team to win the old Yugoslav title. That was in 1986, pre-independence. Vardar also share the Philip II with Rabotnicki. Following naturalisation in 2007, Wandeir picked up a couple of caps for the Macedonia national team, but there are no current Macedonian internationals in the squad.
Nevertheless, Rabotnicki do have relatively recent form against Premier League opponents. They ran Bolton Wanderers close in the first round of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup, taking the lead against a side containing the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Gary Speed, Jussi Jaaskelainen and El-Hadji Diouf before a late Abdoulaye Meite equaliser.
Sammy Lee's men advanced unconvincingly with Anelka's goal giving them a narrow win in the return at the Reebok. The Macedonians impressed, as a well-organised, brisk, counter-attacking side. This was only the second time the club has qualified for the main draw of a European competition, with the other having been a 7-2 aggregate loss to Basel at the same stage in the previous season.
A lot has changed for Rabotnicki since then. Facing Bolton, they were on their way to a third league title in four years. But in 2008 the club's major backer, metal trader Kometal, pulled out. Company founder - and Skopje's mayor - Trifun Kostovski briefly took over rivals Vardar, but now has no direct involvement in football.
Kometal had revolutionised the club since taking over in 2001, building on the club's sporting success and introducing vastly-improved training facilities and infrastructure. Despite a second Macedonian cup win in 2009, Rabotnicki's ambitions have been scaled back. Top scorer Dusan Savic left earlier this year, and now plies his trade in South Korea for Incheon United.
The visit of Liverpool will be a welcome boost to the rebuilding club. Nobody in Skopje is expecting a win, despite Hodgson confirming this week that he will field a team lacking the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. But they are a expecting a European occasion worthy of the name, and as Bolton's team from October 2007 will testify, Hodgson and company can expect a hot reception at the very least.
When Liverpool's players take the field at the Philip II stadium in the Macedonian capital Skopje to face FK Rabotnicki on Thursday evening, the biggest threat to their Europa League future will be the sentiment that they are taking part in a prestige friendly, so unused are the five-time champions of Europe to such an abrupt start to their continental campaign.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
Reds fans may be thankful on this occasion that they have in Roy Hodgson a coach so well versed in the backwaters of European football. Liverpool are not the only giants having to get their hands dirty in the competition's third qualifying round - Juventus, Olympiakos and Galatasaray will also be kicking off their respective European seasons this week.
The home side need no reminder of the context, even if Liverpool's arrival has come round quite suddenly. Since last week's second qualifying round success against Armenian side Mika, a joyous Rabotnicki have been scrambling to ready themselves for this plum tie.
Work on the south stand of the Philip II stadium was originally slated to be finished in early August, but the draw against the men from Anfield saw work accelerated to allow an increase to 20,000 capacity for Thursday's game. Tickets went on sale this week for 300 Denars - just over £4.
From an onfield perspective, Rabotnicki are as prepared as they could be. This is already their fifth European match of the season, having given Andorran minnows Lusitanos an 11-0 aggregate bashing in the first qualifying round before facing Mika.
Coach Zoran Stratev's side had to overcome considerable adversity to get here. They played over half of the first leg against Mika in Skopje with ten men after Brazilian defender Fernando Lopes was sent off for a professional foul. This turned out to be part of a pivotal few moments in the match - Edilson crashed the resulting free-kick against the post for the visitors and their best chance of the match had come and gone.
Rabotnicki hung on and another of the squad's six-strong Brazilian contingent, Wandeir, hit the only goal of the tie three minutes from time with a smart near-post finish. Wandeir is fairly typical of his compatriots in the group. He arrived in Macedonia in 2002 (Rabotnicki is the third Skopje club he has played for) and is again in the Macedonian First League, having had short and unsuccessful spells in Germany, Portugal and Romania.
Now 30, Wandeir previously starred with Vardar, the country's true historical footballing power as the sole Macedonian team to win the old Yugoslav title. That was in 1986, pre-independence. Vardar also share the Philip II with Rabotnicki. Following naturalisation in 2007, Wandeir picked up a couple of caps for the Macedonia national team, but there are no current Macedonian internationals in the squad.
Nevertheless, Rabotnicki do have relatively recent form against Premier League opponents. They ran Bolton Wanderers close in the first round of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup, taking the lead against a side containing the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Gary Speed, Jussi Jaaskelainen and El-Hadji Diouf before a late Abdoulaye Meite equaliser.
Sammy Lee's men advanced unconvincingly with Anelka's goal giving them a narrow win in the return at the Reebok. The Macedonians impressed, as a well-organised, brisk, counter-attacking side. This was only the second time the club has qualified for the main draw of a European competition, with the other having been a 7-2 aggregate loss to Basel at the same stage in the previous season.
A lot has changed for Rabotnicki since then. Facing Bolton, they were on their way to a third league title in four years. But in 2008 the club's major backer, metal trader Kometal, pulled out. Company founder - and Skopje's mayor - Trifun Kostovski briefly took over rivals Vardar, but now has no direct involvement in football.
Kometal had revolutionised the club since taking over in 2001, building on the club's sporting success and introducing vastly-improved training facilities and infrastructure. Despite a second Macedonian cup win in 2009, Rabotnicki's ambitions have been scaled back. Top scorer Dusan Savic left earlier this year, and now plies his trade in South Korea for Incheon United.
The visit of Liverpool will be a welcome boost to the rebuilding club. Nobody in Skopje is expecting a win, despite Hodgson confirming this week that he will field a team lacking the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. But they are a expecting a European occasion worthy of the name, and as Bolton's team from October 2007 will testify, Hodgson and company can expect a hot reception at the very least.
Our 
provides the best breaking news online and our 
football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!
provides the best breaking news online and our football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
In Pictures: The best and worst kits at Euro 2012
The European Championship is just around the corner and Goal.com distinguishes between the trendy and the passe at the prestigious tournament
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
-
Rodgers ushers in new Anfield era on his own terms
The Northern Irishman inevitably expressed his delight at landing the Reds job but evidenced plenty of the steely resolve which could see him become a success at Anfield
