Friday, August 25, 2006

 

It's Palermo

West Ham have been drawn against Palermo in the UEFA Cup. The first leg will be at Upton Park on September 14th, and travel to the Sicilian capital for the return leg on September 28th.

The Mediterranean opponents, who ply their trade in the Italian Serie A but have never won the league, have the full name of Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo and are known as the rosanero (pink and blacks) due to their unusual team colours. They are playing in the UEFA Cup for the second time in their history and for the second season in a row, due to suspensions to the big Italian clubs that saw the Sicilians promoted to fifth place in Serie A. Former players include Claudio Ranieri, Luca Toni, and Fabio Grosso (who has just been bought by Internazionale following a superb World Cup). Australian fans will be hoping to see Socceroo midfielder Marco "don't call me Mark-O" Bresciano turn out against the Hammers - or maybe not, given his playmaking abilities.

* Liverpool have six players sidelined for the upcoming League match against the Irons: Jamie Carragher, John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell, Gabriel Paletta, Mohamed Sissoko and Stephen Warnock.



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