Nottingham Forest star Remo Freuler scored for Switzerland at the World Cup last night and it begged the question of, who was the last Forest player to score at a World Cup whilst they had a contract at the City Ground.
Keen statistics nerds didn’t have to wait too long to find out the answer. The match commentator on ITV told the eager supporters who it was just moments after Freuler had put the Swiss 3-2 up.
Switzerland have gone through to the last 16. They’ve joined Brazil in the knockout stages, with two wins from their three group matches and will now provide a stern test for Portugal.
Freuler was utterly brilliant. His white strip was caked in mud at the end of the game as beads of sweat dripped from his exhausted body. But, he didn’t care, this is Freuler’s world and us mere peasants just live in it.
The 30-year-old has played every game for his country at this World Cup. He’s clearly fancied by boss Murat Yakin and he can be expected to keep his place for the knockout game to come.
Who was the last Forest player to score at a World Cup?
The question would have made a good one for a forthcoming pub quiz. But the answer leads to an infamous former striker who is perhaps more renowned on Trentside for going on strike!
It was Pierre van Hooijdonk who last found the net at the World Cup whilst under contract with Forest. His goal came in the 1998 World Cup when the striker bagged during a 5-0 win over South Korea in the group stages.
Now Freuler can etch his name to the list. It’s not a particularly big one, although Archie Gemmill was a Forest star when he scored his famous goal for Scotland against Holland in 1978.
Forest can feel proud for Freuler. Considering where the Reds were this time last year it’s still somewhat surreal that the club now has players making an impact in the World Cup for their nations.
Now, the former Atalanta man will hope to silence Cristiano Ronaldo and Co when Switzerland meet Portugal in the round of 16.