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Out of all the players who take to the pitch at Wembley on Saturday, there won’t be anyone who can speak with as much FA Cup experience as David James.

The Portsmouth and England goalkeeper is hoping that he can add a third FA Cup Final appearance to his CV by helping the Premiership team to victory over West Bromwich Albion but he is under no illusions as to the task which faces them.

As the only top flight club left in the competition, it seems Pompey have been listed as everybody’s favourites to lift The FA Cup this year but James knows that it is going to be a hard match for them against a team who could still be playing in the Premiership themselves next season.

Tony Mowbray’s team have been involved in the Championship promotion race all season long and look as though they could be contesting in the play-offs, so with bags of confidence, experience and quality in their squad, James knows that Pompey have to be on their game and can take nothing for granted.

"Without doubt, it will be a hard game for us," the 37-year-old told TheFA.com.

"West Brom are definitely one of the better teams in the Championship and the way they despatched of Bristol Rovers in the Sixth Round was testament to that.

"It obviously won’t be an easy game and we know that. It’s a Semi-Final, and for anybody that can be an uplifting occasion or a nervous occasion, because there are so many different parameters involved.

"It should make for a good game though and respect will have to be given to West Brom all the way through.

"I think we only need to look back at the games we’ve had in previous rounds against Ipswich Town, Plymouth Argyle and of course, Preston. They were three hard games and the fact that it’s a Semi-Final now will bring its own individual influences.

"For the lower league teams to play Premiership sides is something that we can’t take for granted and given the three games we’ve had against Championship sides, we know it will be difficult.

"The lads are well versed in what to expect and West Brom are one of the best teams from their division, so we will have to be more than ready for the test."

West Bromwich Albion striker Kevin Phillips is desperate to make it third time lucky at Wembley in Saturday's FA Cup Semi-Final against Portsmouth after recovering from a knee injury he feared might end his career.

Phillips, 34, was last month named Championship Player of the Year after scoring 22 goals so far this season, despite damaging cruciate knee ligaments in November, an injury that sidelined him for six weeks.

After suffering play-off heartbreak with Sunderland in 1998 and last year with West Brom, the former European Golden Boot Winner is adamant that Saturday will not be his last trip to the home of football as he has his sights set on The FA Cup Final on 17 May.

"It's always a dream to play at Wembley, even if it doesn't hold the greatest of memories for me," said Phillips, whose side will be favourites for the Cup if they can beat the only Premier League side left in the competition after a season of shocks.

"The Sunderland game was a real sickener, simply for the way we lost it, but I think last season's play-off final was even worse because at my age I thought that was it - the last time I'd ever play at Wembley.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd be back this season in an FA Cup Semi-Final, but that's the beauty of football - you never quite know what's around the corner.

"It would be great to think that this won't be my last appearance at Wembley - although I'd rather it be in The FA Cup Final than having to go through another play-off final!"

Phillips knows that he is lucky to be in Semi-Final contention after opting against surgery following his knee injury.

There had been fears that the former England international could break down at any moment, but Phillips has rejected them and insists he is fit to lead Tony Mowbray's side to Wembley.

"I did fear the worst with my injury," admitted Phillips. "We kept it pretty quiet but I ruptured part of my cruciate ligament.

"If I'd needed an op, I don't know if I'd have been able to come back from it. The physios here have been great, although it's something I'll have to keep on top of for the rest of my career.

"I feel fit and strong. The injury is causing me no problems at all and hopefully that mini-break earlier in the season will pay dividends for the final run-in."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3683027.ece

April 4, 2008

Niko Kranjcar plans for another great day at Wembley
Times Online and PA

Niko Kranjcar is relishing his return to Wembley in tomorrow's FA Cup semi-final six months after his goal helped end England's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. The Portsmouth and Croatia midfielder would love to take an FA Cup winners' medal along with him to Austria and Switzerland as he prepares for the last-four tie against West Bromwich Albion.

"It was a great day for me and a great day for Croatian football. We came to prove the point that we could compete with the best and we did that," Kranjcar said. "The goal I scored against [England's] Scott Carson is also a great memory although not, obviously, for Scott and Steve McClaren. But, of course, I'm looking forward to going there again.

"Hopefully, the pitch is a bit better now than it was then. But the most important thing is still the same - that the team gives a very good performance and gets into the final. You don't need anyone to motivate you for games like this. You just step on the turf at Wembley and you know it is being played at probably one of the best stadiums in the world."

The £2.5 million signing from Hajduk Split understands that Portsmouth are the favourites to progress to the FA Cup Final, but he knows it will no easy task. "I think people naturally say that we are favourites because we are the Premier League team but the players know it is an FA Cup game - and they know what happened to Chelsea and Liverpool against Barnsley. We know we have to be on top of our form to get the win and get into the final. If we stay focused there shouldn't be a lot of problems.

"Personally I don't know too much about West Brom but it is up to us as the favourites to set the pace and show that, yes, we are the quality team. You play football for these sort of moments and this sort of trophy which is one of the biggest there is around the world.

"Hopefully it will be a good summer for me. Priorities? To have a European Championship winners' medal, of course, but the FA Cup is massive too. When you come to Pompey you don't expect to win a national title but you do hope you can have a good run of cup games and have a chance to win a trophy.

"When I first came I had to settle and adjust but having a run of games and the encouragement of a manager like Harry Redknapp gives you confidence and I'm happy with my form. This is what I dreamed of when I first came here. We've all got our dreams. We want to finish high in the league and win a trophy. Hopefully, we won't let ourselves down."