Rakitić counted out of Schalke-Barça

[Hajduk]

http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/photo/competitions/ucl/67/45/77/674577_mediumsquare.jpg
FC Schalke 04 will be without midfielder Ivan Rakitić for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against FC Barcelona after the Croatian international suffered an ankle injury in training.

One-month absence
The 20-year-old has damaged ligaments in his left ankle and is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks, ruling him out of Croatia's friendly against Scotland on 26 March. He will sit out both legs of Schalke's tie against Barcelona, with the first game at the Arena AufSchalke on 1 April and the return in Spain eight days later. Rakitić, who has won six caps for his country, has played in all 24 of Schalke's Bundesliga matches this season and has featured seven times in their UEFA Champions League campaign. He arrived in Gelsenkirchen from FC Basel 1893 last summer.
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=674581.html


this will be a big loss for Schalke

[shreyas]

Damn.. I was really, really looking forward to watching him play against Barca.. Well atleast they have a super cool stadium eh? :o

[sweed]

he hasnt featured too much though. Even if he was healthy I dont think he woulda cracked the starting 11, maybe a sub...

[hibby1875]

As long as they have Manuel Neuer on the form he showed in the second leg v Porto. :)

That was one of the most stunning goalkeeping displays I have seen in a long while...:eek::cool:

[higuita]

As long as they have Manuel Neuer on the form he showed in the second leg v Porto. :)

That was one of the most stunning goalkeeping displays I have seen in a long while...:eek::cool:

Neuer has been prone to making the odd mistake though. Adler has been absolute class this season.

[hasanejaz]

Neuer has made a few mistakes this season, Adler on the other hand has been consistently good, he is one of the reasons why Leverkusen are where they are this season, quater finals of UEFA Cup and 3rd in the Bundesliga. And also why Bayern only scored twice yesterday ;)

Germany had a hell lot of depth in goal keeping department, experience in Hildebrand (should be No.1 for Euro 08), and quality young under studies in Enke, Rensing, Adler and Neuer. Wiese could be there, but he is alot more mistake prone than any other keeper.

Lehmann shouldnt be in the squad, he isnt playing and isnt even good anymore.

[higuita]

Lehmann shouldnt be in the squad, he isnt playing and isnt even good anymore.

Lehmann was never good :p

[sweed]

Enke isnt really 'young'

[hasanejaz]

I meant Neuer, Adler and Rensing.

But I thought Enke was 27 or 28. Just found out we was 30 :P

[kushal]

As long as they have Manuel Neuer on the form he showed in the second leg v Porto. :)

That was one of the most stunning goalkeeping displays I have seen in a long while...:eek::cool:


agreed...it was like he was possessed...i started laughing after he pulled that save off of Sektioui WITH HIS FOOT...

[germanyfcbarsenal]

Lehmann was never good :p

You are insane. The only reason he didn't start for Germany throughout the years is because we had the world's best goalkeeper ahead of him, just his luck. He proved his mettle in the 2006 WC.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6odhj-JlULw