Liverpool FC Forum

by **JBG** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:28 am

Liverpool have drawn Austrian side Grazer AK in the qualifying round of the CL.

I know absolutely nothing about them.

It would be tempting to say its a handy draw, but I don't want egg on my face come August.

Start researching lads and see what we can dig up!

by **ckay** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:34 am

They have played 2 james so far in the league and are currently 5th.

13 Jul 04 Wacker Tirol 1 - 0 Grazer AK
21 Jul 04 Grazer AK 1 - 0 SV Salzburg

Had a look at there squad list but know big names jump out at me. They could be a banana skin team.

by **maximus** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:34 am

Little bit of info?? - AK Grazer

The Grazer Athletik Klub, abbreviated as Grazer AK or simply 'GAK', was founded on 18 September 1902 in the Austrian town of Graz. The club won several regional championships and three over-all amateur championships before the Second World War (1929, 1932 and 1933) and made it to several Austrian cup finals after 1945. The Austrian Cup was won three times: 1981, 2000 and 2002. However, GAK never won the Austrian championship yet. The club had its best league performance last season: a second slot, behind champions Austria Vienna. Third slots were clinched in 2002 and 2001.

Grazer AK, nicknamed Die Roten Teufel ('The Red Devils'), had its best European campaign in the UEFA Cup of 1996-1997. After having eliminated Novi Sad (Yugoslavija) and Germinal Ekeren (Belgium) in the first rounds GAK came close to eliminating Italian giants Internazionale in the third round: after a 1-0 defeat in Milan GAK won the home game by the same score. The Italians were slightly cooler in the penalty shoot-out: 4-5.

On 26/27 August the 'Red Devils' will welcome Ajax to their fairly new home ground (opened in 1997), quite illustriously named the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium. Yes indeed: the 'Terminator' is a Graz native! GAK shares it with local rivals Sturm Graz. The stadium holds 15,400 spectators. For the game against Ajax on 12 August all seats will definitely be sold.

GAK is currently coached by Walter Schachner. His roster is, in the world of modern football, remarkably 'Austrian' and includes Austrian internationals such as defenders Anton Ehmann (5 caps for Austria) and Emanuel Pogatetz (4 caps), midfielders Dieter Ramusch (10 caps), Martin Amerhauser (8 caps), Matthias Dollinger (1 cap) and René Aufhauser (13 caps) and striker Roland Kollmann (1 cap). Followers of the Dutch Eredivisie may remember the latter player from his short spell at FC Twente.

The superstars in the GAK side, however, are strikers from elsewhere, such as Benedict Akwuegbu, who has 20 caps for Nigeria behind his name and netted 10 goals in European competition so far. Most remarkable newcomer to Grazer AK is Belgian international Michael Goossens, who came from Standard Liege this summer. He played for Genoa (Italy) and Schalke '04 (Germany) and wore the jersey of the other 'Red Devils' (the Belgian national team) 14 times.

Grazer AK made it to the third preliminary round of the Champions League by eliminating Albanian champions SK Tirana in the second. It was a done deal after the away leg in Albania, which GAK won by 1-5. Central forward Ilco Naumoski netted twice, while René Aufhauser, Joachim Standfest and one of the team's stars in midfield, Mario Bazina from Croatia, added one each. The goals in the 06 August return leg were scored by Gernot Sick and Roland Kollmann, making for a 7-2 win on aggregate. It his remarkable that GAK's seven goals against SK Tirana were produced by six different scorers

by **LFC #1** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:35 am

they are a decent austrian side, saw them on Tv against Roma couple of wekks ago and Roma won 1-0 pretty easily, and it was only a pre season match, shouldn't be too difficult.

Probably be tight in Austria, probaly we'll win by a goal and stuff em at anfield by 3 or 4 i reckon.

by **woof woof !** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:39 am

Good work Max.
They don't sound like Mugs but we should ease past them , home win away draw ?

by **ckay** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:53 am

I have also just spotted that Arsenal beat them 2-1 in a friendly ealier this week.

by **anfieldadorer** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 11:59 am

I feel good we're now with the new manager. I could be worried if we're still with GH even to play (with respect) an unheard team.

by **Thor Viking** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:55 pm

This has to be a 2 match win !

If not - y on earth be in the CL then ?
Rosenborg is up against the israeli Maccabi Haifa, and WHEN both LFC and RBK pull through - same group 1st stage ?

by **stmichael** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:01 pm

shelbourne got deportivo!

by **ckay** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:03 pm

The pick of the ties is Basel V Inter!!!!!

by **Starbridge42** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:15 pm

I think it should be a relatively easy tie but then look at Newcastle last season, in a tie that should have been a push over.

by **ckay** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:17 pm

Starbridge42 wrote:I think it should be a relatively easy tie but then look at Newcastle last season, in a tie that should have been a push over.

But in Newcastles defence, you have to remember that Newcastle are SH*T!!!!

by **LFC #1** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:19 pm

we simply must beat Grazer for the money and other things champions league brings, should be a relatively easy tie I think.

by **stmichael** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:24 pm

being away in the first leg is definitely an advantage aswell.

by **woof woof !** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:50 pm

ckay wrote:The pick of the ties is Basel V Inter!!!!!

Deffo , their almost neighbours .
The scum have got a dodgy one (away at least).

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