Meant in the nicest possible way, of course, but bemused non-Anglophiles across Europe must be asking who exactly are Atletico Madrid playing in the final of the Europa league this evening?

Based in West London, with illustrious neighbours Chelsea clinching the Premiership last weekend, Fulham FC have reached the final of the Europa League in the unlikeliest style, beating the German champions Wolfsberg, Hamburg and famously Juventus). They have relatively little finance, a small ground and few fashionable players, none of whom have made Fabio Capello’s 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.

Fulham are certainly one of the smaller clubs in the English Premiership and have only been in it since 2001. Their best season ever was the 2008/9 season when they finished 7^th in the league, and this season have come a modest 12^th. Only two seasons ago, they looked set to be relegated with only 15 minutes of the season left, before staging a remarkable comeback.

The architect of recent successes has to be Roy Hodgson, an experienced manager abroad (Inter, twice, Malmo, Copenhagen, Grasshoppers and the Swiss national team) but with relatively little time spent managing in the UK - there have even been those who have referred to his “needing to prove himself in England”. In reality, his influence on the club has been enormous, buying well in the transfer market and balancing sensitive man-management with instilling a sense of self-belief in his team.

Up front, Fulham have an in-form Bobby Zamora, who has proved to be an almighty handful in Europe this season (his first half performance against Nesta in the second leg, was so uncomfortable for the World Cup winning captain that he eventually received a red card). Extremely unlucky not to be going to the World Cup this year, he has in the past been pretty erratic, prompting one of my favourite terrace chants to the tune of “That’s Amore”

When the ball hits your head

And you’re sat in row z,

That’s Zamora!

Partnering him, Fulham have the much underrated Clint Dempsey who many are tipping to have a good World Cup with USA, and who scored that exquisite fourth goal in the now legendary victory over Juve at Craven Cottage. Other players to look out for tonight will be midfielder and captain, Danny Murphy, ex Liverpool and with bags of intelligence and experience in the middle, he also has the knack of scoring important goals; Damian Duff, Republic of Ireland winger will also be an important attacking force this evening. Ex-Chelsea and Newcastle, he’s lost some of the pace he used to have but has adapted his game cleverly.

Apart form that there really are no stars in this Fulham side which has proved to be their strength over a never-ending campaign that has actually outlasted their Premiership season (their first qualifier was in July). They are a team with enormous spirit and a commitment that few can rival. Although Atletico possess all the European pedigree, their own form is not impressive (three wins in Europe all season…) and they will know that overcoming Liverpool in the semis does not guarantee them a result over Hodgson’s battle-hardened travellers.