Europa Team News
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On Wednesday evening Martin Jol revealed the latest team news ahead of Thursday night's UEFA Europa League clash against FC Twente in Holland.
"Chris Baird stayed at home for personal reasons and Clint Dempsey has a slight thigh problem," Jol explained. "We've got 21 players with us for Thursday night's match."
The Whites will also be without Steve Sidwell, who is recovering from a hernia operation whilst Damien Duff and Stephen Kelly are back in contention after missing last weekend's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates.
Fulham’s lengthy 2011/12 European campaign has already been well documented but Jol maintains that the Whites have been able to take the additional fixtures in their stride.
"Tomorrow will be our 27th game but FC Twente have played a lot of games as well,” the Manager stated. “I'm in favour of a winter break but it's impossible in England. We're working fine and our injury problems are not dramatic. I'm quite satisfied.
"There's more goals in us. We created plenty of chances in our recent away games - it's a matter of confidence and it coming right like it did against QPR.”
Twente have already qualified for the Round of 32 but Jol dismissed notions that the home side will take it easy on Fulham.
"I think they'll think about changing the line-up but they will want to perform at home,” he said. “They’re getting bigger and bigger as a club. It's a very nice club and over the last few years they've been champions and moved to Champions League level. They've got a good structure and organisation and they're playing good football."
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Schwarzer's Desire
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During Wednesday evening’s pre-match press conference in Holland, Mark Schwarzer was asked how he copes with the physical and mental demands of playing Club and international football for Fulham and Australia.
Schwarzer clearly relishes every fixture and is certainly not ready to take his foot off the gas in the next few years as he targets the 2014 World Cup Finals and further European and domestic success with Fulham.
"When people ask me about the travelling, especially with the national team and the amount of games I play, I always say that it’s a mental approach," Schwarzer explained. “You’re a long time retired and there’s plenty of time to recuperate once you’ve finished playing football.
“When you talk about the demands of the Premier League – yes, they are tough but you’re playing in one of the best leagues in the world and you wouldn’t expect it to be any different.
"For me, I want to play for my national team as much as possible. It’s an honour for me and whenever I get the opportunity to play I will take it.
“I want to play as many games as I can and when you come to play in Europe, you just learn to adapt. A lot of it is about your mental approach and of course your fitness.
“Off the back of the season that we reached the Europa League Final, in a campaign in which I played 70 games, I went to a World Cup. If that’s not enough to lift anyone then nothing will. You want to be successful and together with the Team as long as possible.”
Read more: http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/November/SchwarzerEuropaPreview.aspx?#ixzz1fGdY9oga (http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2011/November/SchwarzerEuropaPreview.aspx?#ixzz1fGdY9oga)