FC Schalke 04

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Schalke versus Leverkusen on the 21st matchday of the 2005/06 season turned into a real classic. bundesliga.de takes a look back.

If the hosts play like possessed right from the start and take a 3-0 lead in front of a sell-out crowd, most matches are over as a contest.

Larsen opener

But certainly not on February 11, 2006 in Schalke's Veltins Arena, because Bayer 04 Leverkusen were not willing to cut and run.

Sören Larsen had opened the scoring for the "Miners" after just nine minutes, Mladen Krstajic had doubled the advantage eight minutes later.

Skibbe: "We slept away"

Even the Schalke fans could hardly believe their eyes when Zlatan Bajramovic made it three from Rafinha's cross after 34 minutes.

"We slept away the first 25 minutes and just watched them play until we were 3-0 down", Bayer head coach Michael Skibbe criticised afterwards.

Voronin scores twice

But Andrej Voronin and Dimitar Berbatov either side of half-time cut the deficit to 3-2, and suddenly Bayer were back in the match.

The hope didn't last long however as Kevin Kuranyi (55) and Sören Larsen (63) restored Schalke's three-goal advantage.

A real rollercoaster ride

Game over now, surely? No! Bayer were not impressed and hit back through Voronin (64) and Jacek Krzynowek (71) - 5-4!

It took another goal from Lincoln for 6-4 (76) to floor Leverkusen before Gerald Asamoah (81) put the icing on the cake for the "Royal Blues".

Slomka goes mental

Schalke head coach Mirko Slomka was beside himself after the rollercoaster ride and raved about the "greatest match in my 16-year career. Such an exceptional result is normally only possible in youth matches. Everyone not here today will regret it. I thought it was incredible, fantastic, terrific!"

It was the Bundesliga match with the most goals since Borussia Dortmund had defeated Arminia Bielefeld 11-1 on November 6, 1982.

[Oliver_Kahn]

The German Football League (DFL) has announced the first five fixture dates for the forthcoming Bundesliga season. And the Royal Blues will turn out on all three possible days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - at least once.

As previously announced, Mirko Slomka's men kick off with a trip to VfB Stuttgart on Friday, 10 August (2030 CET). Next up is the local derby against Borussia Dortmund at the VELTINS Arena on Saturday, 18 August (1530 CET).

On Sunday, 26 August (1700 CET) the Royal Blues guest at VfL Wolfsburg before hosting Bayer Leverkusen under floodlights at the VELTINS Arena on Friday, 31 August (2030 CET). They then travel to Bayern Munich on Saturday, 15 September (1530 CET).

[Oliver_Kahn]

The first Schalke fans have arrived in Austria - and they have now been joined by the players. Mirko Slomka's men moved into an eight-day training camp in Bad Radkersburg on Saturday evening (7 July).

As in the previous two years the Royal Blues travel to Styria aiming to lay the foundations to progress as far as possible in every competition up to the winter break. The Mitterling Stadium in Bad Radkersburg will again serve as the training ground, and the Schalke delegation are staying at the Hotel im Park until Sunday (15 July).

The opening training sessions took place in bright sunshine at 1000 and 1700 CET on Sunday and were watched by hundreds of travelling Schalke fans. The Royal Blues will play two friendlies during their stay. On Tuesday (10 July) they face FC Copenhagen in Bad Gleisdorf before taking on Middlesbrough in Bad Radkersburg on Saturday (14 July).

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FC Schalke 04 were table-toppers for a long time, but they finished second. bundesliga.de looks back!

The Schalke team had a very strong 2006/2007 Bundesliga season. But it wasn't enough to win the title. The dream of their first German football championship since 1958 evaporated just as they were about to achieve it.

With just two games left in the season, Schalke was the Bundesliga's table-topper, but Borussia Dortmund beat them 2-0 and they fell back into second place. The final game of the season, a 2-1 win over Bielefeld, didn't make any difference in the end, since VfB Stuttgart won its final match and lifted the Bundesliga trophy.

The 2001 title -- lost on the final matchday

And after the final whistle in the game against Bielefeld, there were no tears. Instead the fans celebrated their team's second-place season -- everyone simply refused to be sad. Exactly six years earlier, to the day, Schalke went through a similar fate on the final matchday of 2001. Thinking they were Bundesliga Champions, they only enjoyed their good fortune for four minutes, before hearing that FC Bayern München had scored a goal in stoppage time in Hamburg, to steal the title from Schalke. The emotions after those dramatic few minutes weren't there this time around.

After all, no one can deny that Schalke's season was terrific, with 21 wins and just 8 losses in a 34-game season.

bundesliga.de reviews Schalke 04's season in pictures! Enjoy the slide show!

Schalke's season in pictures

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Ghana captain is desperate for a move from Turkish club Fenerbahce with clubs in Germany and England revealing interest in him.

The 26-year-old midfielder had been linked to English Premiership club West Ham United but recent reports have indicated that German club Schalke 04 are leading the race for his signature.

According to reports, Appiah has agreed on terms with Schalke and the club officials are ready to reach a deal with Fenerbahce for the transfer.

However, Appiah last week revealed strong interest to play in England.

"West Ham United have expressed strong interest in me and I think Fenerbahce will have to listen to their offer and other offers on the table for me," he said.

"It is public knowledge that I want to move to England in the interest of the education of my kids, who still live in Italy because of their education. At the start of last season I turned down several offers from top clubs in Europe just to help Fenerbahce lift the title because of my love for the team and fans."

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Appiah On The Move?

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Friendly:

FT Schalke 2 - 2 FC Copenhagen

5' [0 - 1] M. Gravgaard

9' [1 - 1] K. Kuranyi

32' [1 - 2] M. Nordstrand

81' [2 - 2] K. Kuranyi

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SkySports confirms aswell, Schalke have launched a fresh bid to sign Appiah.
Sky Sports - The Best Sport Coverage From Around The World

[Oliver_Kahn]

I'm not too sure, they couldn't get him on the first time..

[Oliver_Kahn]

The Royal Blues delivered a really good performance to mark the end of their one-week training camp in Bad Radkersburg on Saturday evening. Despite being put through a final session in the morning, Mirko Slomka's men beat Middlesbrough 3-0 at the Mitterling Stadium. Kevin Kuranyi (4'), Gerald Asamoah (44') and Mimoun Azaouagh (55') got the goals.

Slomka made just one change to the side that faced FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, Gerald Asamoah coming in for Halil Altintop up front as the Royal Blues kept to their 4-3-3 formation with Ivan Rakitic in the central attacking midfield role behind the three strikers.

Just how effective this system is becoming was clear with only four minutes gone. Rakitic played a one-two with Christian Pander and knocked the ball into the middle to Peter Lovenkrands, who got a touch on it before Kevin Kuranyi gave Schalke the lead with a backheel from a close range. Within sixty seconds the Royal Blues launched another dangerous raid down the left. But Pander's whipped-in cross was turned away by Boro keeper Ross Turnbull with Kuranyi waiting to pounce. Schalke's third decent chance in the opening quarter of an hour belonged to Asamoah, whose cheeky cross-cum-shot from distance came down on the crossbar.

Little was seen of the 2006 UEFA Cup finalists in the first half. Gareth Southgate's team posed little threat on Manuel Neuer's goal, with only a long-range shot from Adam Johnson to show for their efforts. The danger signs were there again on the half hour - but this time in front of the Boro goal. The lively Kuranyi forced his way through the Boro defence yet again, playing a neat one-two with Lovenkrands only to see his shot blocked by Turnbull.

At the other end Schalke's number one was having a quiet evening. And while he was beaten in the 39th minute, the referee was absolutely right to rule out Turkey international Tuncay's strike for offside. Five minutes later the net was bulging again and this time it counted. After a move involving Rakitic and Kuranyi the ball found its way to Asamoah, who completely unmarked had no trouble guiding a shot past Turnbull.

After the break Schalke, playing in all blue, carried on where they left off in the first half. And they soon got their reward for their neat play when Mimoun Azaouagh, on for Rakitic, curled a 20-metre free-kick into the top left corner to make it 3-0 on 55.

Though Schalke had further opportunities through Altintop, who fired the ball over the bar in the 61st minute, and Mathias Abel, whose header flew just wide of the left-hand upright, a host of substitutions took the impetus out of the game and there was only one more chance worthy of note. A mistake in the Schalke rearguard saw Yakubu suddenly pop up in front of Neuer, but the Schalke keeper pulled off a reflex save with his foot, and Jason Euell hit the rebound wide of the right-hand post.

The final action of the game saw Michael Delura force his way down the right and send in a cross to Altintop, whose first-time shot was saved by David Knight. And so the game ended in a fully deserved 3-0 victory over a Middlesbrough side who on occasions appeared to be in some disarray.


FC Schalke 04: Neuer - Rafinha (Boenisch 38'), Bordon (Westermann 46'), Krstajic, Pander (Abel 61') - Ernst (Kunert 68'), Kobiashvili (Bajramovic 61') - Rakitic (Azaouagh 46') - Asamoah (Heppke 61'), Kuranyi (Delura 68'), Lovenkrands (Altintop 46')

Middlesbrough: Turnbull (Knight 65') - Davies (Hines 46'), Wheater, Pogatetz, Grounds (Tylor 46') - Rochemback (Cattermole 46'), Boateng (Kennedy 46') - Tuncay (Craddock 46'), Johnson (Walker 70') - Morrison (Euell 46'), Yakubu

Goals: 1-0 Kuranyi (4'), 2-0 Asamoah (44'), 3-0 Azaouagh (55')

Attendance: 3,000

[BlackNess]

Schalke And Wolfsburg Interested In Riquelme !!1

i read that in Goal.com is that true >??

[jan]

I read that rumour on some sites as well. They might both be interested but I don't think they can get him unless every other top team in Europe isn't interested and thus doesn't join the race to sign him.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Originally Posted by jan

I read that rumour on some sites as well. They might both be interested but I don't think they can get him unless every other top team in Europe isn't interested and thus doesn't join the race to sign him.

Yeah I agree, the only bundesliga club that can atract a player liek Riquelme is Bayern. Even if Schalke and Wolfsburg make him an offer, he is likely to turn them down.

[Oliver_Kahn]

A good first-half proved not to be good enough: FC Schalke 04 managed no better than a 1-1 draw against Regional League outfit SG Dynamo Dresden.


Gerald Asamoah put the "Royal Blues" in front in the 27th minute in the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, with Pavel David equalising for the home side quarter of an hour from the end. Jermaine Jones made his debut for Schalke, following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Dynamo Dresden: Hesse - Cozza, Votava, Hübener, Nikol - David, Truckenbrod (46. Würll), Bendovskyi (16. Hauser), Jungnickel (86. Süß) - Dobry (81. Kügler), Bröker (68. Bolze)

FC Schalke 04: 1st half: Schober - Boenisch, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Ernst, Kobiashvili - Rakitic - Asamoah, Altintop, Lövenkrands. - 2nd half: Schober - Kunert, Abel, Westermann, Kobiashvili, Jones, Bajramovic - Azaouagh - Heppke , Kuranyi, Delura

Goals: 0:1 Asamoah (27.), 1:1 David (75.)

[Oliver_Kahn]

Despite a decent first-half performance Schalke had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their sixth pre-season friendly at third-division outfit Dynamo Dresden on Wednesday evening. Gerald Asamoah gave the Royal Blues a 27th minute lead at the Rudolf Harbig Stadium, but Pavel David equalised for the home side 15 minutes from time.

Schalke boss Mirko Slomka made two changes to the side that beat Middlesbrough 3-0 at the weekend, Mathias Schober coming in for regular keeper Manuel Neuer and Halil Altintop replacing Kevin Kuranyi, who is suspended for Saturday's League Cup quarter-final. But the formation - a flat back four, three midfielders and three strikers - remained the same.

In the opening stages the Royal Blues were not as effective going forward as they had been against Middlesbrough. In fact, a fourth-minute effort from Peter Lovenkrands that posed no problem for Dresden keeper Marcus Hesse was all they had to show for their efforts. At the other end of the pitch, however, both Marcelo Bordon and Mladen Krstajic had to intervene to prevent Dynamo from getting shots in on goal. Schalke's build-up play was good, but they lacked the necessary bite in front of goal.
That was to change in the 27th minute. Following a Sebastian Boenisch throw-in Gerald Asamoah skipped past Thomas Hübener and Tomas Votava in the penalty area and dispatched a left-shot into the far corner to give Schalke the lead.

Slomka then made a host of changes at half-time, with Schober and Levan Kobiashvili the only players to come back out for the second half and Jermaine Jones making his debut for the Royal Blues. But it was the home side who threatened first. Pavel Dobry bulldozed his way into the penalty area, only to see his effort saved by the alert Schober. There was nothing the Schalke keeper could do seven minutes later, though, and he could count himself fortunate when Pavel David's lob came down on the crossbar.
It took a while for Slomka's rejigged side to find their rhythm. But midway through the half Zlatan Bajramovic had three great chances in quick succession. His first effort, a left-foot strike from just outside the box, struck the underside of the bar. And then he headed a Michael Delura corner straight at Dynamo keeper Hesse before hammering the rebound over the top from close range.

Yet just as the Royal Blues stepped up the pressure, Dresden found an equaliser. Two minutes after Dobry had lost control of the ball when clean through on Schober Dynamo captain Pavel David made no mistake, heading home Patrick Würll's cross from eight metres. And Dresden could even have won it not long after, but Hübener's shot from a narrow angle struck the bar before coming down on the line and bouncing clear.

Dynamo Dresden: Hesse - Cozza, Votava, Hübener, Nikol - David, Truckenbrod (Würll 46'), Bendovskyi (Hauser 16'), Jungnickel (Süss 86') - Dobry (Kügler 81'), Bröker (Bolze 68')
FC Schalke 04 (1st half): Schober - Boenisch, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Ernst, Kobiashvili - Rakitic - Asamoah, Altintop, Lovenkrands
FC Schalke 04 (2nd half): Schober - Kunert, Abel, Westermann, Kobiashvili, Jones, Bajramovic - Azaouagh - Heppke , Kuranyi, Delura
Goals: 0-1 Asamoah (27'), 1-1 David (75')
Attendance: 12,151