ISRAEL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: England manager disappointed by 0-0 draw in Euro 2008 qualifier match against Israel

Israel and England's disappointing 0-0 draw in Israel on Saturday (March 24) dented the chances of both teams reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year. England manager Steve McClaren said he was frustrated by the result. "Disappointed. We should win that. We are absolutely gutted that we haven't won it. We should score goals with the opportunities that we have got and another day we could have scored two or three but tonight obviously the reaction is disappointments," McClaren told reporters after the game ended. England have scored only one goal in their past five internationals -- their worst run for 26 years. McClaren He said England had expected a tough encounter against Israel at their home base, where they had not lost for seven years prior to last November's 4-3 defeat by group E leaders Croatia. McClaren said the players were "devastated", but that qualifying is what counts and that he had players good enough to reach the finals. "My job is to qualify. My job is that in Euro 2008 we are there. We are still confident of getting there. We still got enough games to play," he said. The much-anticipated encounter left most of the 41,500 supporters subdued and the uninspiring game was played out in a muted, relatively quiet stadium. Israel coach Dror Kashtan said he was pleased with the result. "I am satisfied with the way the team played and with the tactical stand of the players," Kashtan told reporters after the game. The veteran Isaraeli coach said his tactical preparations for the match had paid off as the players slowed the pace and took the sting out of the England attack. "I think that today's result is very good and not necessarily at any game, even a team like England and Israel, not necessarily showing their best performance," he said. Kashtan added that still with the same number of points and games remaining as England, Israel were no worse off and their chance of qualifying was still in tact. Israel's next game is a home clash with Estonia in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

ITN Source | March 26, 2007

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