FCK ready for Royal League-final no. 3

14/03 2007 16:22

F.C. Copenhagen is going for their third Royal League-trophee in a row, when they visit Brøndby on Thursday night for this years all-Danish final in the Scandinavian competition.

Copenhagen won the first tournament in 2004-05 after a dramatic final against IFK Göteborg in Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg. After 1-1 at the end of ordinary time, the final was determined on penalties - and what a penalty-competition it was! It took 13 kicks from each teams, before Copenhagen could lift the trophee after having won 12–11!

The following season Copenhagen again reached the final, this time against Lillestrøm from Oslo. The game was played in PARKEN, and Copenhagen won 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Ghanesian International Razak Pimpong - who actually was sent off after the goal for tearing his shirt off in joy, which cost him his second yellow card of the game. But he was soon forgiven by his teammates... Unfortunately he has picked up an injury the other day, so he can't repeat the success.

This years final is a real classic between the two biggest clubs and rivals in Denmark - Brøndby, who had a horrible autumn in the domestic SAS League, and F.C. Copenhagen, who currently is top of the table and a sensational 17 point ahead of Brøndby at 6th place.

During the winter break, Tom Køhlert has replaced René Meulensteen as head coach, and Brøndby has started all over again and showed far better play and consistency than before the break. But anyway - in these local derbies, everything can happen!

If you have access to the Danish TV-channel "Kanal 5", you can see the final live from 7 p.m.

Captain Linderoth and matchwinner Pimpong celebrating the Royal League trophee in 2006

Ståle Solbakken has named the following 18 players for his squad:

1. Jesper Christiansen
2. Lars Jacobsen
3. Niclas Jensen
4. Hjalte Nørregaard
5. Brede Hangeland
7. Ailton Almeida
8. Michael Silberbauer
9. Fredrik Berglund
10. Jesper Grønkjær
13. Atiba Hutchinson
14. Michael Gravgaard
16. Dan Thomassen
17. Oscar Wendt
21. Thomas Villadsen
22. Morten Bertolt
23. William Kvist
24. Jeppe Brandrup
29. Lasse Qvist