England fans should fear not: when Israel play Russia in their Euro 2008 qualifier they will be under no pressure whatsoever — and that is when they are at their fluent best.
Fans and some hacks in England have tried to suggest that because of the Jewish connection with Roman Abramovich, who himself has close ties with the team from his native Russia, Israel will lie down and play dead when they visit Tel Aviv on November 17, thereby sealing England’s fate.
They must be joking. If there is one title to which Israel often claim it is that they are the world champions in international friendlies.
There is no happier place in world football than the National Stadium in Tel Aviv after Israel have just heard the final whistle of an international friendly. Almost invariably, they will have either beaten their opponents or gained a high-scoring draw.
Israeli pundits and fans know all this and they long for the day when the team can perform in competitive matches consistently in the way they do in friendlies and fixtures which for them are meaningless, but that is a dream still to be realised.
England fans still hoping for a miracle in the land which is supposed to have invented them should cast their minds back to October 13, 1993 when a team of “nobodies” together with Ronnie Rosenthal and the young Eyal Berkovic stunned the entire soccer world as they beat France 3-2 at the Parc des Princes. It was a result which subsequently cost the French their place in 1994 World Cup finals.
Whatever England fans may think of Steve McClaren after the loss to Russia in Moscow, he was right about one thing: no team that comes to Tel Aviv has an easy time against Israel.
The ageing National Stadium is not as intimidating as many others and the lush playing surface is as flat as a billiard table. You’d think it would be a good place for away teams but the reality is that Israel rarely come off second best in front of their adoring and demanding fans.
Israel coach Dror Kashtan, a disciplinarian not known to willingly make compromises, has said he will pick the best squad he can to face Russia. After all, even if qualification is no longer possible, Israel still have their pride at stake and the players will not want to let down a packed stadium of 44,000 spectators.
Ori Lewis, Jerusalem
PHOTO: Israel’s Yossi Benayoun (R) and Dedi Ben Dayan attend a training session at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb October 12, 2007. REUTERS/Nikola Solic
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I’ve got a feeling Israel are going to beat Russia, or at least get a draw. Israel look very difficult to beat at home, so I don’t think this is all over for England yet. We’ll see.
- Posted by London[…] England’s boss Steve McClaren could also be hitting the unemployment line, especially if his country fails to qualify for Euro 2008. They’ll need some help and one side that might be up to the task is Israel, who seemingly play their best football when they have little to lose. […]
- Posted by World Cup Round Up: Sevens are Wild in Asia, More Jack Warner Mischief - World Cup BlogAs an England fan I am still hopeful of qualification and a strong performance from Israel against Russia. You make a good case for
My main concern is the lack of goals. I know they got three against Croatia last year, but there haven’t been many against top opposition since. What chance Ben Sahar or Roberto Colautti turning up ? I will be keen to see Yossi Benayoun hit form (and avoid injury)at Liverpool before then as well.
- Posted by Sport Blogger[…] Ori Lewis added an interesting post today on Russia beware: Israel are world beaters when the pressureâ
- Posted by www.soccersecrets.info » Russia beware: Israel are world beaters when the pressure’s offEven if Israel beats Russia and England qualify for Euro this way, England are in no way vindicated from being crappy.
Short of probably a top 3 position in Euro 08, England currently should be considered a lightweight.
- Posted by Five TimesYep, will be nothing much to celebrate even if England do scrape through.
- Posted by LondonDo they play a third place play-off in the Euros ? I didn’t think so..I guess you meant a semi-final place or England still get to be called crappy. At least if England don’t qualify all the little rat touts can take a summer off and collect their own giro for a change.
- Posted by Sport Blogger