Heartbreaker

A cruel last gasp defeat, but Fulham Football Club should be very proud

Sometimes it’s not about the final destination but the journey along the way, and Fulham’s journey, through Russia and the Ukraine, Volcanic Ash clouds and training on the side of autobahn’s has been one hell of a ride. Ultimately, the final and 19th game of an epic European campaign which started way back in July in the third qualifying round in Lithuania ended in extra time disappointment but that shouldn’t detract from the amazing efforts of Roy Hodgson and his players along the way.

Fulham’s campaign has been about confounding the critics and from securing improbable victories against the likes of former European Cup winners (Hamburg) the reigning German champions (Wolfsburg) the competition holders (Shaktar Donetsk) and certifiable world giants (Juventus). That’s not meant to sound insulting, nor patronising, merely showing admiration for a team and a manager that were able to capture the whole country’s imagination.

We are often told, or rather ordered by pundits in this country that we must support English teams in Europe as it’s the ‘right thing to do’ but I don’t think many do. I know I don’t, I hear enough carping and bragging from Manchester United and Liverpool fans as it is. But Fulham’s story, in times when it is largely impossible for any romantic tales of underdogs winning competitions to come true has been a breath of fresh air. The club from West London have shown those of us out there that support teams that don’t have a 70,000 capacity stadium, don’t have a billionaire owner and that aren’t able to spend £30 million on a new player that it’s still possible to dream. That through team spirit, organisation and good old fashioned coaching a team can still find their way to the very top table.

A lot of the credit, and rightfully so, goes to manager Roy Hodgson, a man finally getting the recognition his talents deserve after a nomadic career coaching across Scandinavia, Switzerland and Italy and taking in three different international jobs. It’s been said that the English footballing establishment has long been distrustful of its sons that decide to leave its shores, and it’s taken Hodgson many, many years to even get the chance to show what he can do. Known to be meticulous in his preparation with a fine attention to detail the 62 year old took a side that were a complete shambles under Lawrie Sanchez and near relegation certainties to the cusp of European glory – a remarkable achievement.

He has also done this in a gracious and understated way. It is to Hodgson’s great credit that very rarely does he criticise officials and often has lots of praise for his opponents. He is also a breath of fresh air to the English game, reminding its protagonists that there’s a whole wide world of football outside our game, known for being insular at best. Many times I’ve seen him on Sky’s coverage of the Champions League, reminding the likes of Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness that the rest of the world can play football a bit to.

It’s this experience, gathered from coaching all over the world that has helped him to marshal a side of talented, yet unheralded names all the way from the early qualifying rounds to the HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg, accounting for a series of notable scalps along the way. Players themselves deserve credit for improving their own games, but is it any surprise that Bobby Zamora is playing the best football of his career to where he was to be considered an England player, that Damien Duff has found himself once again after three years when it looked like his career was knackered, that Brede Hangeland has been such a success since moving from the Norwegian league has all come under Hodgson?

Ultimately last night’s adventure ended disappointingly, four minutes from the end of extra time. On the day, Fulham showed the determination and spirit that has characterised their season but came up against a side, or more specifically two players (Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan) who are top class internationals and that can make all the difference at this level. A heartbreaking end to an incredible journey, but one which should be looked on with incredible pride and rather than sadness and regret.