EJP | In Depth | World Cup | Israel to face England in Euro qualifiers

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Israel to face England in Euro qualifiers

Updated: 30/Jan/2006 17:23

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The thousands of English ex-pats living in Israel were handed the tie they have always wanted on Friday afternoon when Israel were placed in the same group as England for the qualifiers for the 2008 European Championships.

The two countries have never faced each other in a competitive game and Israeli Football Association chairman Itche Menachem and newly appointed coach Dror Kashtan were clearly excited at the prospect.

As well as England, Israel will also play home and away ties against Russia, Croatia, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra over the year and a half qualification period.

Each team gains three points for a win and one for a draw, with the top two going on to compete in the final stages in Austria and Switzerland in two years time.

“In for a treat”

“England is the strongest team in the group. It is the birth place of soccer and this will be the first time we have faced them in an official match,” Kashtan said.

“Russia and Croatia are also very strong teams. The rest of the teams are very interesting as we've never faced any of them in an official match before.” Menachem said.

"It's a pretty good draw. If you look at the six other groups, you can say it's a reasonable draw, but definitely not an easy one. It's a very attractive draw and the fans in Israel are in for a treat,” he added.

Israel is an emerging force in world football and impressed during its qualification campaign for this summer’s world cup. The team just missed out despite gaining impressive draws both at home and away against Ireland, France and Switzerland.

Some of the best Israeli players are now plying their trade in the English Premiership, with Yaniv Katan joining his fellow countryman Yossi Benayoun at West Ham United just a few weeks ago.

England, however, comfortably qualified for the tournament in Germany this June and July and have even been made favourites to win Euro 2008 by some bookmakers.

Israel improving

England’s Swedish coach Sven Goran Erikkson was in attendance at the draw in Switzerland on Friday, even though he has announced he will be leaving the post after the World Cup and not leading the team into the European Championship qualifiers.

Erikkson said he believed whoever takes over from him will be satisfied with the group. "I think England should be happy with the draw. There are groups much more difficult than the England group, so I think it's very good," the England coach told Sky Sports.

The Swede also noted the improvement of the Israeli side. “Israel are coming [and improving] but all the small football nations are becoming better and better,” Erikkson said.

"It's never easy, it shouldn't be at that level but I think the England fans and man coming after me will be happy with this draw."

The game will be sure to attract massive interest, both from the media and the English-Israelis who will be forced to choose between supporting the national team they grew up with or their adopted country.