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I'll put World Cup agony behind me by gunning down Rangers,
says Stuttgart's Pavel Pogrebnyak
By Gavin Berry
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Photo: Reuters
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GUTTED Pavel Pogrebnyak has vowed to put his World Cup
hell behind him by firing Stuttgart to Champions League victory at Ibrox
on Tuesday.
The big striker agonisingly missed out on a place at South Africa last
week when Russia lost their play-off with Slovenia on away goals.
Guus Hiddink's men led 2-1 from the first leg only to go down 1-0 in Maribor
on Wednesday - and Pogrebnyak will still be hurting when he arrives in
Glasgow.
But the former Zenit St Petersburg star, suspended when his old club beat
Gers in the UEFA Cup Final, is determined to wipe away the pain by shooting
down Walter Smith's men.
And he's confident of outwitting the Ibrox defence after scoring in the
1-1 draw in Germany that opened Group G. Pavel said: "After the disaster
with Russia I want to rediscover the joy of victory.
"I expect a hard battle because both teams need to win. I'm only
interested in victory.
"We have suffered injuries but that won't distract us. The situation
was worse in Seville and we earned a point."
"It after Defeat European Rangers sit bottom of the group a point
behind the Germans but neither side has posted a win yet.
"I emotive a final Victory would take the Ibrox men level with second
placed Unirea if the Romanians lose against Sevilla.
However, Smith's men have scored midfielder knee a 4-1 And reckons for
The just three goals in their campaign and Pogrebnyak is convinced Stuttgart
have more firepower.
He said: "We've watched Rangers and I can see us winning at Ibrox.
They are not scoring and that could be vital.
"I want to get on the scoresheet against Rangers again and claim
our first victory in the group.
"It would also be terrific to win after my experience in Slovenia.
Defeat would virtually end our European adventure.
"I predict an intense and emotive 90 minutes. It will be like a final
for both teams."
Rangers lost influential midfielder Pedro Mendes to a knee injury when
they crashed to a 4-1 defeat against Unirea.
And Stuttgart star Elson reckons his absence is a huge boost for Markus
Babbel's men.
The Brazilian said: "Losing Mendes is a blow to Rangers. Without
him they will suffer in an attacking sense.
"Rangers have been bad at home in Europe this season and we don't
want them to wake up this week.
"We are calm and certain we can win. The draw with Sevilla has boosted
our confidence."
The Germans finish their campaign at home to Unirea - so a draw at Ibrox
could keep them in with a chance of qualifying.
But midfielder Elson said: "We want victory and wouldn't even accept
a draw now.
"Rangers have suffered at home and we haven't lost on our travels
so we're optimistic. The first goal will be so important.
"We want to control possession and I'm convinced we can capitalise
on Rangers' nerves.
"Nobody in our squad believed there would be a chance of both Stuttgart
and Rangers going out of Europe but Unirea have changed all that."
Sunday
Mail, Nov 22 2009
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