UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Israel prepare for Euro 2008 qualifier hoping to defeat the injury-hit English side

Israel ended their preparations for their Group E qualifier against England with a practice session on Friday (Setpember 7) at Wembley. England are fourth in the standings with 14 points, behind Croatia and Israel (both 17) and Russia (15), although the Israelis have played one more match. The hosts are without David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and almost certainly Owen Hargreaves. England coach Steve McClaren is also struggling to find a suitable strike partner for injury-prone Michael Owen as Peter Crouch is suspended for the Israel game. The Israelis are quietly confident and feel the pressure on their injury-hit opponents gives them a chance to steal a good result from a match they are expected to lose. Manager Drol Kshtan told reporters that Israel has a chance to prove that they can achieve something against more established opponents. "England is a strong team and the favourite side. On a given day in a given match everyone is vulnerable. I'm certain and I'm absolutely sure of the fact that our players will be concentrated and they will be prepared for the game. They know they can do something in the game that for many years Israeli football hasn't achieved. At the moment England has fourteen points and played one less game. Russia has fifteen points and played one less than we did. We've got seventeen points and played an extra game. There is a lot of meaning for this game. I am a great believer in the Israeli players and the Israeli national team. And I know that if our players will be united into one group, one team I am convinced they know what burden they have on their shoulders," he said. In contrast to England's long injury list, Israel have only one seriously doubt, although he is a significant one. Argentinian-born striker Roberto Colautti, Israel's top scorer with six goals in the campaign, looks like being replaced by Yaniv Katan. With an experienced back line, Israel will rely mainly on a solid defensive performance with Dudu Aouate of Deportivo Coruna in goal behind Tal Ben Haim of Chelsea and Beitar Jerusalem's Shimon Gershon in central defence. Arik Benado, who normally plays in central defence, will move up to a defensive midfield position, a similar role he played against England in March. The rest of Israel's lineup is also set to rely mainly on experience with Walid Badir of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Idan Tal of Beitar Jerusalem and Liverpool's Benayoun in midfield supporting Katan and Barak Yitzhaki of Beitar up front. Captain Yossi Benayoun said Israel will chase a good result to please their fanatical supporters and said he was looking forward playing at the new Wembley stadium. "First we come to enjoy such a lovely stadium of football. Of course we want to do the best, it can be enough for a win it can be enough for a draw. Any result like a win and we will be happy and make happy all the people in Israel because everyone is looking at and talking about this game in the last month. We are all expecting things from this game. Hopefully we will do a good result that will give a lot of happiness to our people," he said. Injury-hit England, who may be forced to play midfielder Steven Gerrard despite a broken toe, know that anything less than three points would leave them precariously off the pace in Group E. Probable teams: England: Paul Robinson; Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry; Ashley Cole, Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole; Michael Owen, Emile Heskey. Israel: Dudu Aouate; Yuval Shpungin, Shimon Gershon, Tal Ben Haim, Yoav Ziv; Arik Benado, Walid Badir, Idan Tal, Yossi Benayoun; Barak Yitzhaki, Yaniv Katan. Referee: Peter Vink, Netherlands

ITN Source | September 8, 2007

Tags:. .draw. .confident. .terry. .captain. .broken