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Angry Beitar fans break into Platini presser
UEFA President Michel Platini got a close-up view of the ugly side of Israeli soccer in Tel Aviv on Tuesday when a small band of angry young men who support Beitar Jerusalem briefly disrupted a news conference he attended with Israel FA chairman Avi Luzon.
The half-dozen irate supporters, including one in military uniform, sneaked in with the media throng to one of Tel Aviv’s top hotels and sat to one side. Security guards were nowhere to be seen.
After a few minutes, the men began making expletive-filled chants against Luzon, as Platini, who did not understand what was being said, looked on bemused.
One of the supporters approached Platini and attempted to place a Beitar scarf around his neck but he was easily thwarted by Luzon who plucked the scarf away. Once the protesters had made their point they began to exit, shouting more abuse on the way. You can see a clip of it here on the sport5 website.
Dull Israeli season dawdles to a close, improvement in doubt
One of the dullest Israeli soccer seasons for many years dawdled to a quiet close this week with newly-crowned champions Maccabi Haifa and cup winners Beitar Jerusalem sharing the honours in a 1-1 draw that changed nothing.
It was a microcosm of an entire season almost bereft of “champagne moments” and prospects for improvement next season look doubtful.
The Israeli FA hopes next season will herald a change for the better as the top two professional divisions increase in size from 12 to 16 clubs.
There are many critics who think the opposite and say that more thinly spread TV rights money and club funding from the football pools will actually wreak disaster.
Riise offers Grant a short reprieve from the media’s glare
Chelsea’s 1-1 Champions League draw at Liverpool on Tuesday was all about Avram Grant getting a reprieve from the hacks who only days earlier said his time under Roman Abramovich was almost up.
No question that Chelsea were poorer on the night. Liverpool should have had one or two more goals in reserve for the return leg at Stamford Bridge before John Arne Riise’s injury time own goal gave the Blues a huge boost. It also lifted the pressure from Grant for now, at least.
If he makes it to the final in Moscow, Grant will have surpassed Jose Mourinho’s efforts with Chelsea in the competition, but will the press notice? Probably not. Grant’s supporters complain that after more than half a year in the job, Mourinho is still getting the credit for his successor’s achievements.
There can be no doubt that former Israel coach Grant has adequate coaching abilities even if some of his critics point to the fact that before the Chelsea hot seat he was never tested at such a high level.
English players should get out more
Consider for a moment the following: when the draw was made for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup last weekend England and Israel were both ranked in the second tier (of six) of the European nations.
This already shows that while Israel have learned a thing or two and have improved, there is something wrong with England.
In 1992, when Israel entered the European fold, they were treated as little more than minnows, perhaps only a bit better than Luxembourg or the Faroe Islands.
A decade and a half later, Israel are ranked 18th in Europe and 26th among all FIFA member countries. One can argue about the validity of the rankings, but the general trend is undisputable: the gap between England and Israel and many other countries of similar stature to Israel, has narrowed greatly.
Israel prove a point to Russia … as predicted here
It’s nice when your colleagues from abroad call for your “expert advice” when they want to be reassured and it’s even more satisfying when your prediction turns out to be correct.
It’s not often that I feel I can utter the phrase ‘I told you so!’ but Saturday night was one such time — and it felt doubly good when Israel beat Russia in Tel Aviv and kept England alive in Euro 2008.
The form book said that it would not happen and there were many England fans missing a heartbeat at the thought that their already faint-looking hopes would be dealt a killer blow when the Russians stormed to victory against a second-rate team.
I promised that Israel’s exemplary home record — they have lost only once here in seven years — would not be easily wrecked. Of course, I would not stick my neck out to say that Israel definitely would not lose, but their record gave me enough confidence to be cautiously optimistic (see the piece I wrote for this blog after England’s defeat in Moscow).
i agree roger! you know your stuff, england need to get a new manager
Russia beware: Israel are world beaters when the pressure’s off
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.
Do 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.
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The simple fact here is that the English players are not skillful enough ,period .