ISRAEL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - National coach Dror Kashtan says Israel will be in peak form for their upcoming Euro 2008 Group E qualifier against England at Wembley

Israel's national football team prepares to face England in their crucial Euro 2008 Group E qualifier at Wembley. Coach Kashtan says he expects to have his squad at its peak. Israel coach Dror Kashtan said on Monday (September 3) he expected to have his squad fine tuned and at its peak to face England in their crucial Euro 2008 Group E qualifier at Wembley on Saturday. Members of Israel's 23-man squad based locally convened in Tel Aviv on Monday evening to begin training before flying to their camp near London on Tuesday. Kashtan told reporters that his main task during the training camp was to get the chance to see who is at full fitness. "Every player in the squad today wants to play and I am certain that those who will play will give their utmost," he said. He added that England would put all their emphasis on winning their home matches but that even a draw would be a top achievement for his side. "Any result other than a loss we achieve there, I think will be one of the greatest achievements for Israeli soccer," he said. Israel and England played out a dull goalless draw in their first meeting in the qualifying group in Tel Aviv in March. Croatia and Israel currently lead group E with 17 points, Russia are third on 15 and England on 14 points. Israel have played eight matches and the other three seven. The group is made up of Macedonia, Estonia and Andorra who cannot qualify. Kashtan said that regardless of England's mounting injury list and many star players sidelined, any side chosen by England coach Steve McClaren would be very tough opponents. Kashtan did not say which of his charges would play on Saturday, although in stated that "in any event the Israeli team will play with four defenders at the back". He added that the rest of the line-up was open to interpretation. The 62-year-old coach revealed that he had first visited Wembley many times including during the 1966 World Cup when he saw all the games played by the eventual winners. He said that he returned recently to the rebuilt stadium for last season's FA Cup final. Veteran defender Shimon Gershon said that England would be under more pressure than Israel and that this could bode well for a good Israeli result. "I think that we have a good chance and I feel that England are under pressure," he said. "If we can overcome the opening minutes (without conceding a goal), the pressure on them will mount," Gershon said. "Everyone knows that England are under pressure, everyone knows its a win match. Both Israel and England need to win it to keep alive in this campaign and at the moment looks like the pressure is on England," added Ofer Ronen the team's press officer as he watched the squad training.

ITN Source | September 4, 2007

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