Juventus the dream draw for Hodgson

Roy Hodgson set his sights on a return to Italy after Fulham qualified for the knock-out stages of the Europa League with a well-deserved 3-2 victory over FC Basle last night.

Fulham join group winners Roma plus the likes of Champions League drop-outs Juventus, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in the last 32 of the tournament.

The draw is made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon at midday tomorrow and Fulham cannot meet Liverpool or Everton, who are in action against BATE Borisov tonight but have already qualified for the round of 32.

But Hodgson, the former Inter Milan manager, has his eye on one potential tie in particular.

“I wouldn’t mind playing Juventus,” he said after a first-half double from Bobby Zamora and a Zoltan Gera strike had set Fulham on their way to victory.

“I am looking forward to the next round, the draw to see who we get and then we see how far we can go.”