Germany weakened for Prague testFriday

by Manfred Christophfrom Cologne
Joachim Löw has selected four uncapped players in a 20-man squad for the UEFA EURO 2008™ trip to the Czech Republic where Germany will put the leadership of Group D on the line.
New facesGonzalo Castro and Bayer 04 Leverkusen team-mate Stefan Kiessling feature in a senior squad for the first time along with VfB Stuttgart midfielder Roberto Hilbert, while No3 goalkeeper Robert Enke is yet to make his debut despite being called up previously. Miroslav Klose and Clemens Fritz are suspended for the 24 March match in Prague, and will also sit out the friendly against Denmark four days later, although Fritz is on standby for the game in Duisburg. Six injuredMario Gomez, Mike Hanke, Oliver Neuville, Gerald Asamoah, Tim Borowski and Arne Friedrich are injured. Both Germany and the Czech Republic have ten points from four matches.
Germany squadGoalkeepers: Robert Enke (Hannover 96), Timo Hildberand (VfB Stuttgart), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal FC).
Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Manuel Friedrich (1. FSV Mainz 05), Marcell Jansen (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (BV Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea FC), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Bernd Scheider (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinstieger (FC Bayern München), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV).
Forwards: Stefan Kiessling (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Kevin Kuranyi (FC Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München), Jan Schlaudraff (TSV Alemannia Aachen).
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Holders troubled by Tottenham taskFriday

Sevilla FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC will meet in a mouthwatering UEFA Cup quarter-final which will have extra significance for Frédéric Kanouté.
London returnThe Malian striker spent two seasons at Tottenham before moving to Sevilla at the start of the 2005/06 campaign. It proved a highly productive first term in Andalusia as he played a major role in the club's UEFA Cup run, notably scoring in the 4-0 final defeat of Middlesbrough FC in Eindhoven. He will return to White Hart Lane for the second leg on 12 April, seven days after the north London team visit Seville for the sides' first UEFA meeting.
Focus requiredHis coach Juande Ramos was not too pleased with the draw, calling Tottenham a "great team". He added: "We haven't been lucky at all. On top of that we will play the first leg at home. All English teams are hard and tricky competitors. It'll be tough but Sevilla can't be afraid of anyone. We have to get the best result we can at home and be totally focused."
Mixed memoriesAs well as the Middlesbrough mauling, last year's campaign also saw Sevilla tackle another Premiership club in the group stage. In a one-off match - their only other pairing with English opposition - Sevilla drew 1-1 at Bolton Wanderers FC. In contrast, Tottenham have mixed memories of past Spanish encounters. Starting on a high, they became the first English team to lift a European trophy with a 5-1 victory against Club Atlético de Madrid in the 1962 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in Rotterdam.
Spanish glorySince then they have twice been paired with Primera División outfits, and each time their opponents went on to claim the silverware. Tottenham took on FC Barcelona in the 1981/82 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals and drew 1-1 at home before losing 1-0 at Camp Nou. Then, against Real Madrid CF in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, the holders lost 1-0 at home and then drew 0-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Hat-trick goalNevertheless, Tottenham have a proud record to defend in the UEFA Cup. They have landed the prize twice, in 1972 and 1984, and are bidding to join Liverpool FC, Juventus and FC Internazionale Milano as the only sides to have secured a hat-trick of titles. Tottenham manager Martin Jol was well aware that Sevilla, who defeated FC Shakhtar Donetsk 5-4 on aggregate to advance in dramatic circumstances, are perhaps the toughest of the teams left in the hat but refused to be overawed.
'Good thing'"You have to beat the best to get to the final and there is no such thing as an easy draw at this stage," he said. "It is a good thing we are in the last eight and it is our fifth quarter-final [in all competitions] in three seasons so that is something to be proud of." Tottenham also had a thrilling Round of 16 engagement, eventually progressing with a 6-4 scoreline over two legs at the expense of SC Braga. Whoever gets through to play Bayer 04 Leverkusen or CA Osasuna is sure to provide plenty of entertainment.
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Historical edge to Iberian duelFriday

SL Benfica may be the most illustrious name left in this year's UEFA Cup but they will need an upturn in fortunes against Spanish sides if they are to see off RCD Espanyol and reach the semi-finals.
Finest hourThe Portuguese club were crowned champions of Europe in 1961 and 1962, and achieved both triumphs at the expense of heavyweight teams from across the border. First, they beat FC Barcelona 3-2 in Berne before a 5-3 victory against Real Madrid CF in Amsterdam the following year. The two titles remain the Lisbon giants' finest hour but, more recently, things have not gone so well.
Heaviest defeatBenfica have not won in their last eight matches against Spanish opposition, including their heaviest defeat in UEFA competition history, a 7-0 reverse at RC Celta de Vigo in the 1999 UEFA Cup third round. Their record is not great either in terms of away games, Benfica having played in Spain seven times and prevailed just once. Taking that further, two trips to Barcelona and Espanyol's old rivals from Camp Nou both finished in Benfica losses, most recently in last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals when they went down 2-0.
Santos satisfactionIf his club have struggled, Fernando Santos can point to a personal success against Espanyol, as the Benfica coach overcame them in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup third round while in charge of FC Porto – the only previous time the Spanish team have met Portuguese foes. "We had a very good first leg and won 2-0. In the second leg we controlled the [goalless] match, but I think it will be different this time." Although he believes "there were two or three sides more difficult than Espanyol" in the draw, he has concerns about the "tremendous attacking duo" of Raúl Tamudo and Walter Pandiani.
Away dismayAs in their 4-3 aggregate win against Paris Saint-Germain FC in the last 16, Benfica will play the second leg on 12 April at home, a week after they go to Catalonia. According to Ernesto Valverde, the Espanyol coach, this will give the Portuguese outfit the edge. "Against us is the fact we will play the second leg away and yesterday, for example, only Sevilla [FC] got through playing away," he said. "In any case, despite such complications, it will be a great and enjoyable quarter-final."
Consistency keyEspanyol's 4-0 home romp against Maccabi Haifa FC, after a creditable if uninspiring stalemate in Israel, is what took them through to this stage, yet Valverde knows that this time his men will have to do the business in both legs. "We have to play two good games to get through, because one isn't enough." With either AZ Alkmaar or Werder Bremen lined up as semi-final rivals for the winners of this Iberian duel, such a formula for success will no doubt be required again.
©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.

Bremen barrier concerns AZ

Friday, 16 March 2007
AZ Alkmaar are wary of the threat posed by Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals but can take comfort from the Bundesliga side's record against teams from the Netherlands.
'Difficult draw'Danny Koevermans, who earned his first call-up by the Netherlands today for the forthcoming UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Romania and Slovenia, has been a major factor in AZ's run to the last eight. He scored a goal in each leg as the Dutch club drew 4-4 on aggregate with Newcastle United FC to progress on away goals, and knows Bremen will push AZ just as hard. "It is a difficult draw," Koevermans said. "We have already knocked out Newcastle and Fenerbahçe [SK], so who knows?"
Home helpOne possible negative is having to play the first leg at home on 5 April, where Alkmaar have not lost in 29 European games, before travelling to Germany a week later. "I don't know if it is a disadvantage. You never can tell but we certainly have to get a good result at home." Regardless, the former Sparta Rotterdam striker still cannot believe how far he has come. "Two years ago I saw AZ reach the semi-finals on television, now I am part of it myself."
Poor recordAZ have encountered German opposition once before, in that 2004/05 march to the UEFA Cup last four, earning a 0-0 draw at TSV Alemannia Aachen before going through to the last 16 with a 2-1 home success. Bremen, in contrast, have been pitted against Dutch sides on four occasions and have an underwhelming record. In eight matches, they have lost five and drawn two – though tellingly their only win came in this season's competition and was a real statement of intent.
Goals galoreThomas Schaaf's men brushed aside AFC Ajax in the Round of 32 with a 3-0 home victory, ultimately advancing 4-3 on aggregate, and then saw off RC Celta de Vigo by a 3-0 margin over two legs. With a tie against either RCD Espanyol or SL Benfica awaiting the winners, Schaaf was happy enough to draw another Eredivisie club, though he was full of praise for Louis van Gaal's outfit and the unrivalled 25 goals they have scored in this current campaign.
Schaaf wary"Again a Dutch side," Schaaf said. "We have respect for Alkmaar as they have proved in the past to be a top team in Europe. It won't be easy but we are looking forward to it. Alkmaar can be compared to Ajax and are very strong at home. It is important we get a good result there and then make it perfect in Bremen, because Alkmaar have shown their strength in second-leg matches."
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