Star players, memorable moments and headline-grabbing controversies, they’re all here in fulhamfc.com’s rough FFC-tinged guide to the greatest show on earth. Today we look at letters N-R.
N is for the Netherlands, who were losing finalists in the 2010 World Cup. Fulham goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and the departing John Heitinga were both in the side that day, with the latter shown a red card in the narrow 1-0 defeat against eventual winners Spain. Stekelenburg and Heitinga were also part of the 2006 Netherlands World Cup squad.
Niclas Jensen was part of the Denmark side that reached the last 16 at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. The defender made three appearances, including the 2-0 Group A win against holders France and the 3-0 knockout defeat against England. He made 18 appearances for the Whites between 2005 and 2007.
Nicola Rizzoli, the 42-year-old Italian who is recognised as one of the world’s most respected officials, will be one of the 25 referees at the tournament in Brazil. In May 2010 he took charge of Fulham’s Europa League Final defeat against Atletico Madrid in Hamburg’s Nordbank Arena.
O is for opening matches, in one of which John Collins scored a memorable goal for Scotland against Brazil at the very start of the 1998 World Cup in France. In an exciting game, the Scots narrowly lost to the defending champions 2-1, with a bleached-haired Billy McKinlay also involved.
P is for Paul Parker, who played a vital role in England’s march to the Semi-Final in 1990. After an eventful yet goalless first-half, the Germans took the lead on the hour-mark via a wicked deflection off our former youth team graduate. Parker, though, made amends when crossing for Gary Lineker to score the goal that took the game to extra-time and to its notorious finish. The defender made 184 appearances in Fulham colours.
Former Fulham defender Philippe Senderos is set to appear at his third World Cup in the colours of Switzerland having ran out for his country in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010. He’s previously stated that his goal against Korea Republic in 2006 was one of the highlights of his career.
Pelé, a tentative link we admit, but no World Cup list would be complete without a mention of the great man and a player whose reputation as one of the best ever is synonymous with the global showpiece. The three-time winner was an intoxicating mix of skill, ingenuity and ruthless finishing – attributes that graced stadiums all over the world, including Craven Cottage in March 1973 when his Santos side took on Fulham in an exhibition match. Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto was also in the side that day.
Philippe Albert, who made 13 appearances for the Club during the 1998/99 season, lined up for Belgium in the 1994 World Cup in the US. The defender played in all four of his country’s matches as they reached the last 16, scoring in the 3-2 defeat against Germany and in the 1-0 Group F victory over the Netherlands.
Q is for qualifiers. No fewer than 16 of last season’s Fulham squad were involved in the 2014 World Cup qualifying process. Brede Hangeland, Scott Parker, Alexander Kačaniklić, Jesse Joronen, Ashkan Dejagah, Fernando Amorebieta, William Kvist, Pajtim Kasami, Derek Boateng, Elsad Zverotić, Neil Etheridge, Giorgos Karagounis, John Heitinga, Maarten Stekelenburg, Kostas Mitroglou and John Arne Riise.
R is for Roy and Ray, as in Hodgson and Lewington. Former Fulham Manager Roy Hodgson leads England out for his second major tournament after the 2012 European Championship, having guided his Three Lions side to the top of their qualifying group. The 66-year-old does have World Cup previous, having led Switzerland to USA 1994 and guiding them to the last 16. Lewington, who coached under Roy in one of several spells at Craven Cottage, is once again part of Hodgson’s staff. The pair helped the Whites to the Final of the UEFA Europa League in 2010 – can they lead their country to similar success out in Brazil?
Bryan Ruiz, Fulham’s attacking midfielder who spent the second half of last season on loan at PSV, will be a key player for his nation as Costa Rica look to spring a surprise by qualifying from arguably the toughest 2014 World Cup. In Group D alongside England, Italy and Uruguay, Los Ticos have only emerged from the group stage once (in 1990) from four attempts.