Schalke boss glad 'Jaws' won't bite

PAUL KIDDIE

RALF RANGNICK today admitted he’ll be happy to escape an attack by "Jaws" at Murrayfield this evening.

The Schalke boss was recalling the last time he was in Scotland for Stuttgart’s UEFA Cup meeting with Hearts at Tynecastle four years ago when his side edged through on the away goals rule despite losing the return leg 3-2.

Former Gorgie boss Jim Jefferies surprised his German counterpart by naming 6ft 7in Kevin James in the line-up, the centre-half starting his first game for a year.

The beanpole defender was thrust into attack in the second half as the hosts pushed for a famous victory in a frenzied finish which saw Stuttgart end with nine men and Gordan Petric scorn a glorious chance in the dying minutes.

Rangnick can still vividly remember the events of that pulsating evening in Gorgie, with James in particular clearly having made a lasting impression.

"When I was at Stuttgart we had a very good game against Hearts at Tynecastle a few years ago," said the Schalke boss. "It was a close match played in a great atmosphere and I remember Hearts fielding a centre-half, who didn’t normally play in the team, in attack.

"He was this huge guy, the tallest footballer I think I have ever seen in my life! We nicknamed him Jaws as he reminded us of the character from the James Bond movie.

"One of my defenders was Marcelo Bordon (he scored at Tynecastle) who is now also at Schalke. He kept saying to me: ‘Coach, what I am supposed to do with this guy? How do I defend against him? He is so tall!"

James is now assisting Falkirk’s promotion push from the First Division, and Rangnick added: "I believe he is no longer at Hearts - he has probably joined a basketball team!"

RANGNICK'S TROOPS

FRANK ROST: Goalkeeper. Age 31, from Leipzig, Germany. Height 6’ 4". A very experienced keeper and team captain, Rost won the League (1993) and Cup (1994) with Werder Bremen before moving to Schalke in 2002.

MARCELO BORDON: Defender. Age 28, from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Height 6’2". Strong, athletic and hard to get past. The Brazilian International is a tower of strength and is coming on to his best form after a big money transfer from VfB Stuttgart in the summer. A regular scorer from set pieces.

MLADEN KRSTAJIC: Defender. Age 30, from Zenica, Serbia-Montenegro. Height 6’3" . A quality defender who has some 30 international caps and was a big signing during the summer from Werder Bremen.

CHRISTIAN PANDER: Defender. Age 21 from Munster, Germany. Height 6’. Thirteen first team appearances, scored his first goal in the recent 3-2 League win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

DARIO RODRIGUEZ: Defender. Age 30, from Montevideo, Uruguay. Height 6’. A tough ball winner, He was recruited by Schalke in 2002. Thirty-one caps for Uruguay.

TOMASZ WALDOCH: Defender. Age 33, from Danzig, Poland. Height 6’1". A tough tackling defender with 74 caps for Poland, he helped Schalke to win the Cup Final in 2002.

CHRISTIAN POULSEN: Defender/Midfielder. Age 24, from Asnaes, Denmark. Height 5’11". Danish International who played at Euro 2004 and the World Cup Finals in 2002, before joining Schalke. A tenacious, defensive midfielder, he is an important player for Schalke.

NIELS OUDE-KAMPHUIS: Midfielder/ Defender. Age 26, from Hengelo, in the Netherlands. Height 5’ 10". Niels has proved to be the ideal utility man. The energetic Dutchman has earned one cap for his country and helped Schalke win the Cup Finals in 2001 and 2002.

HAMIT ALTINTOP: Midfielder. Age 22 from Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Height 5’11". A fast, skilful and direct playmaker who is highly regarded and has been capped by Turkey. Recruited by Schalke 04 in 2003, he has scored five goals for the club.

JORG BOHME: Midfielder. Age 30 from Hohenmolsen, Germany. Height 5’10". A man of many clubs and great experience, Bohme has seen considerable action in Europe and his pace, dribbling skills and passing ability have earned ten caps for Germany. Many fans feel this fiery character makes the team tick. Bohme often scores great goals, including the two that won the Cup in 2001 against Union Berlin.

LEVAN KOBIASHVILI: Midfielder. Age 27 from Tblisi, Georgia. Height 6’. An established International with nearly 50 caps for Georgia, Kobiashvili is a tough ball winner who can turn defence into attack with his precise passing skills. A regular goal scorer and has hit three this season.

LINCOLN: Midfielder. Age 25 from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Height 5’10". A skilful and creative midfielder, This dynamic playmaker has scored two goals in 12 outings.

AILTON (Ailton Goncalvez da Silva): Forward. Age 31 from Mogeiro, Brazil. Height 5’9". Germany’s Player of the Year last season when his 28 League goals helped Werder Bremen to lift the Championship. The stocky striker also assisted Werder to win the Cup Final before his sensational move to Schalke in the summer. He has made a huge impact in Germany with 90 goals in 174 Bundesliga games and after taking some time to settle, Schalke 04 will soon see the best of a man who can hit the net from any angle.

GERALD ASAMOAH: Forward. Age 26 from Mampong, Ghana. Height 5’11". Now a regular in the German international team, His creative attacking play also helped Schalke to win the German Cup in both 2001 and 2002, and he will be a real threat to Hearts.

EBBE SAND: Forward. Age 32 from Hadsund, Denmark. Height 6’. A robust and fearless striker with nearly 70 caps, he played at the World Cup Finals in 1998 and 2002, as well as Euro 2004. Has scored eight goals this season.

Taken from the Scotsman