World Cup Footie

Neil Alexander will complete a remarkable 12 months that started as a substitute in the English second tier by appearing in the UEFA Cup final this Wednesday.

Rangers FC manager Walter Smith says victory against FC Zenit St. Petersburg in Wednesday's UEFA Cup final would signify the pinnacle of a distinguished career.

Nacho Novo struck twice as Rangers FC savoured a welcome return to scoring form ahead of the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday, defeating Dundee United FC 3-1.

An extra English club will compete in the first qualifying round of next season's UEFA Cup after England's FA finished top of the 2007/08 UEFA Fair Play standings.

The Netherlands will launch a four-pronged pursuit of another UEFA Cup title next season after being given four tickets for the first round of the 2008/09 edition.

A scouting trip to Glasgow has not unsettled Dick Advocaat as his FC Zenit St. Petersburg side stand "one tie away from making history" in the UEFA Cup.

Having made a swift recovery from an ankle problem, Lee McCulloch hopes Rangers FC's "fantastic journey" will conclude with UEFA Cup final victory in Manchester.

Goalkeeper Neil Alexander has urged his Rangers FC team-mates to grasp the opportunity of becoming "heroes" by defeating FC Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA Cup final. "It's a chance for us to make history and to be a team of heroes," said the 30-year-old, who only joined Rangers from Ipswich Town FC in January. "We're there, we've done half the job, and if we can go on and win it, it'd be unbelievable."

The United Kingdom authorities have announced that visas will be free of charge for FC Zenit St. Petersburg fans coming with tickets to next week's UEFA Cup final.

Manchester is finalising plans to welcome thousands of football fans for the UEFA Cup final with big screens set to screen the game in fan zones in the city centre.

Attack will meet defence in next week's UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium as high-scoring FC Zenit St. Petersburg tackle a resilient Rangers FC side.

Rangers FC have confirmed that goalkeeper Allan McGregor will miss the FC Zenit St. Petersburg match as well as the rest of the Scottish top-flight campaign.

Disbelief predominated after FC Zenit St. Petersburg sealed their UEFA Cup final place but Russian clubs are rapidly growing out of their former inferiority complex.

Captain Anatoliy Tymoschuk said "I could not believe we made it" after FC Zenit St. Petersburg earned a UEFA Cup final place at FC Bayern München's expense.

Keeper Neil Alexander is relishing "the chance to make history" after helping Rangers FC reach the UEFA Cup final with a penalty shoot-out save at ACF Fiorentina.

Fabio Liverani reflected on a "cursed game" after ACF Fiorentina missed a host of chances against Rangers FC and paid the ultimate price by losing on spot-kicks.

FC Zenit St. Petersburg 4-0 FC Bayern München (agg: 5-1) Russian champions Zenit are in the UEFA Cup final after a clinical show saw off Bayern's threat.

ACF Fiorentina 0-0 Rangers FC (agg: 0-0, Rangers win 4-2 on pens) The Scottish club reached their first UEFA Cup final with a shoot-out victory on Italian soil.

After a 4-0 UEFA Cup semi-final win against FC Bayern München, FC Zenit St. Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat said that his charges now "deserve" to win the trophy.

Walter Smith pointed to Rangers FC's character and commitment after they overcame ACF Fiorentina to achieve a first European final appearance in 36 years.