Schwarzer 'gutted' after Europa defeat

Champion goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will battle to come to terms with one of the most
crushing defeats of his career before starting Socceroos' World Cup preparations.
The Australian veteran said he felt "gutted" after Fulham's heartbreaking 2-1
extra-time loss to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final in Hamburg on
Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
The psychological scars cut even deeper for Schwarzer, given it's the second time
he's lost in the final of the same major competition.
In 2006, he was part of the Middlesbrough side crushed 4-0 by Sevilla, in the final
of what was then called the UEFA Cup.
However, the Socceroos statesman said the loss to Atletico, courtesy of
man-of-the-match Diego Forlan's strike four minutes from the end of extra time, hurt
far more than the peppering he copped in 2006.
"That was a clear-cut result, but this time we were so close and a penalty shoot-out
is like a lottery. We are just gutted to have lost so late in the game," Schwarzer
told DPA.
The 37-year-old said after playing the 2006 final, he didn't expect another chance
would come his way, and spoke of his devastation at again having the trophy slip
from his grasp.
"(I didn't expect it to come around again) but it did and then to lose it is
terrible," he said.
"I think that it was simply impossible for us to come back from going a goal down
with just four minutes to go.
"If we had scored then, we would also not have thrown the game away, I am sure.
"I will now try to enjoy a few days break before starting to gear up for the World
Cup."
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was also feeling an unfortunate sense of deja vu, having
lost with Inter Milan against Schalke on penalties in 1997.
Former Manchester United star Forlan broke Fulham's hearts with two goals, opening
the scoring in the first half, and then slipping his marker in the 116th minute to
slide his shot past Schwarzer and send the title to Madrid.
"The players are obviously very disappointed, but we put in a valiant performance,"
said Hodgson.
"It was a bitter blow to concede such a late goal. I thought the game was heading to
penalties, we were looking good despite the tiredness and holding our shape.
"Forlan scored a typical goalscorer's goal and we simply didn't have enough time to
recover, but I am tremendously proud of what those players have achieved."
Despite the disappointment at the Hamburg Arena, it has been a remarkable
achievement for Fulham to reach their first ever European final, after accounting
for Italian giants Juventus, holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Hamburg and German champions
Wolfsburg on the way.
Having coached Fulham since December 2007, Hodgson received the League Managers
Association (LMA) award last Monday night as recognition for his efforts in what has
been a remarkable season.
They finished 12th in the English Premier League and Hodgson's side have grown
during their European run in a competition they were not even thinking of winning at
the start of the season.
"Our dressing room is a very disappointed place at the moment and I expect it will
take the players a few days to get over this," said Hodgson.
"But I have told them they can be proud of what they have achieved this season."