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We need to talk about Kevin
by Tim Farin
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Kevin Kuranyi in action for Germany (¿Getty
Images)
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The congratulations to Kevin Kuranyi from Germany coach
Joachim Low arrived via text message. The FC Schalke 04 forward had just
answered some of his detractors by scoring four times in the 5-0 defeat
of FC Energie Cottbus on 15 April to keep the Gelsenkirchen outfit firmly
in the running for a UEFA Champions League qualification place. "Four
goals? I think the last time I scored so many in a single match was when
I was with the U10s," smiled Kuranyi.
Impressive stats
The 26-year old's haul all but confirmed his place in the Germany squad
for UEFA EURO 2008T despite having experienced a difficult second half
of the season. "Kevin will be part of the squad for EURO, if nothing
extraordinary happens," confirmed Low. Even though the current campaign
has had its ups and downs for Kuranyi, the statistics are on his side
- he has scored 14 Bundesliga goals, three in the UEFA Champions League
and two more in the German Cup.
'Important' player
However, for weeks Schalke's No22 had been in the midst of a goal drought.
Between matchdays 20 and 28 he scored just twice in the Bundesliga and
after being substituted by then coach Mirko Slomka following another blank
- this time in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against
FC Porto - he turned down the offer of a handshake with the trainer. "Kevin
had a weak phase, but he has shown how important he is to us with many
goals in the past," said Low.
Determined
His record with Germany is impressive having scored 19 goals in 46 appearances
since debuting in 2003, and after been omitted from the squad for the
2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany by former national coach Jurgen Klinsmann,
appearing at UEFA EURO 2008T is the number one priority for the former
VfB Stuttgart player. "There is no way I am going to miss out on
the EURO," he said.
'Quality'
Kuranyi is effective in the air and adept with both feet, attributes which
have led Schalke caretaker coach Michael Buskens to describe the Rio de
Janeiro-born striker as possessing "huge quality". The four
goals against struggling Energie have also put Kuranyi within one strike
of his personal best of 15 for a season, a feat he achieved in 2002/03
while at Stuttgart, and more recently last term.
'Good luck'
Even without his goalscoring abilities, Kuranyi has earned praise for
other aspects of his game, with his former coach at Stuttgart Ralf Rangnick
saying: "Kevin is by far the best forward when the opposing team
has possession." Kuranyi welcomed his change of fortune against Energie,
saying: "I needed this piece of good luck, and I earned it."
German supporters will be hoping for more of the same at UEFA EURO 2008T.
Euro2008.uefa.com,
25 April 2008
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