Laters.

this is unbelievable

ENGLAND suffered a Euro bombshell last night when one of Israel’s coaches confessed: “I want Russia to qualify.”


Incredibly, he also admitted Israel plan to field a team of unknown youngsters on Saturday.


The astonishing claim will stun England boss Steve McClaren, who is depending on Israel to at least draw against Russia in Tel Aviv — and keep alive our slim hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals.

Israel keeper coach Alexander Ubarov, 47, said: “I would like Russia to qualify for the Euros — and for them that means winning in Israel.


“I told them it’s not going to be easy — they’ll have to be totally prepared. In the 16 years I have been involved with the Israeli squad, we have never done anything but to try our best in every single match.


“I would like Russia to qualify — but only if it means that they deserve to.


“Everything will be decided on the pitch, nowhere else.”


Ubarov is a Russia-born former Soviet Union international keeper who has gained Israeli citizenship.


But he is in constant contact with his native land and appears intimately informed about the Russian preparations for the Group E crunch showdown.


He added: “It’s a game of life and death for the Russians as far as them qualifying.


“A win over Israel will bring them to Austria next summer. They’ve flown to Cyprus ahead of the game to try and relieve some of the pressure. They’ll arrive here only a day ahead of the game.”


Ubarov says the Russians are delighted that Israel’s Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun will miss the match with a groin injury.


Ubarov added: “I got so many calls from Russia, asking about Benayoun.


“They are really scared of him, so I guess it was good for them to see he will not be playing. It’s a real shame he won’t be playing.


“When he was still playing for Racing Santander in Spain, many teams in Russia wanted him.


“Anyway, his absence will provide an opportunity for some of our other talents to shine.”


Ubarov revealed Israel boss Dror Kashtan will include a few inexperienced youngsters in his line-up to give them some big-match experience. He added: “There will be new players in the team who will want to prove themselves.”


Speaking to Israeli sports website ONE, he added: “The game is at home so, basically, we have nothing to lose.


“We may have some youngsters on the pitch — the kind of players that would give it all since they are eager to prove themselves.”


In another bodyblow to England, Israel defender Yoav Ziv insisted he could not care less if the Three Lions qualify.


He said: “All we have to play for is our respect and make our country and fans happy. But we’re not working for England. I am not interested if they qualify or not. I play for Israel, not England.

I went to my first Toon game in 1977
Peter Withe was playing for us. Remember him?
I once went 2 whole seasons without missing a game home or away. Of course that was back before i got married and still had a life

Peter Withe played for Forest i think.Have you ever been to a game in Nottingham Yogi..

77 your showing your age mate

My first game was 87..Shit 20 years

86 mine doesnt seem that long ago and sheff u have been shite every season!!!!!!!

England Team against Austria tonight.

England: Carson; Richards, Campbell, Lescott, Bridge; Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, J Cole; Owen, Crouch.

Good to see beckham back,i just want him to reach 100 caps 98 tonight

I dont think beckham should be in the squad never mind the team

you won't say that he scores last minute against croatia and we get there

true

Fans of over a dozen clubs in Italy will not be permitted to attend their team’s next away games as a result of the fallout from last weekend’s tragic events.



zoom - galleria A Lazio fan was shot dead by a policeman when rumbling Lazio and Juventus fans fatefully crossed paths while traveling to their respective away games last weekend, and this ban is just one of the measures imposed by the FIGC as a response to the uproar.



Though it is not yet confirmed whether the season will restart on the weekend of November 24, fans of 15 teams will surely have to settle to watch the next away match of their team from the television.


Serie A sides Atalanta, Catania, Milan, Roma, Sampdoria and Torino have all been barred from traveling next round, while the same counts for supporters of Serie B outfits Bari and Cesena and are Serie C sides Potenza, Reggiana, Taranto, Ternana and Verona.

In April, the Italian government introduced a law designed to stamp out football hooliganism following the death of a policeman in rioting at a match in Sicily in February

Its only cause hes ex Utd i fond of him

yeah i can see what you mean he just winds me up

Looks like paul Jewell could be the next Republic of Ireland Manager i think he might do an ok job there

Peter Crouch's headed goal was enough to give England victory over Austria in Vienna but their win was marred by an injury to striker Michael Owen.

Owen limped off in the first half after suffering a thigh strain and will miss next Wednesday's potentially crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia.

Crouch grabbed his goal on the stroke of half-time when he headed in David Beckham's corner from the left.

Crouch also missed with a header in the second half as the match petered out.

England will now prepare for their final Euro 2008 qualifier hoping that by the time they step out on to the pitch to face Croatia their dreams of returning to Austria are still alive.

This, of course, largely depends on Israel preventing Russia from winning on Saturday.

And for the first 30 minutes of the friendly it seemed Steve McClaren's XI were resigned to the belief they were going to be spending next summer watching the championship on television.

To put it politely, the opening exchanges were tepid on a chilly night at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion, although there was a major incident that involved Austria goalkeeper Jurgen Macho.



The former Sunderland player came off worst in a collision with Crouch and needed urgent attention inside the area after appearing to swallow his tongue.

Macho recovered but was still dazed and was consequently stretchered off to be replaced by Alex Manninger.

The former Arsenal keeper was almost immediately called into action when he palmed over Owen's 16-yard effort, after the Newcastle forward was fed in by Crouch's backheel.

Unfortunately, that was Owen's last bit of action, as the injury-prone striker was forced to come off after pulling up with a thigh strain.

He will now be out for a month and will miss what could be England's most important match since their World Cup encounter with Portugal last year.

However, the injury did not have a negative effect on the England players, in fact the XI, now joined by Jermain Defoe, appeared to move up the gears.

Joe Cole, who was to be replaced at half-time, came close to giving his side the lead when he skipped into the area after receiving a chested pass from Crouch.


McClaren acknowledges Beckham's efforts as the player comes off

However, the Chelsea midfielder's attempt to get to the ball was thwarted by the alert Manninger who then saw Crouch's follow-up blocked by Rene Aufhauser.

Moments later, England's bout of pressure paid dividends when Crouch scored his 13th goal in 23 international appearances.

The lanky Liverpool hitman timed his leap to perfection to nod in Beckham's corner from the left.

Beckham, who came off for David Bentley in the second half, showed the 4,500 travelling support what they had been missing by conducting England's play from deep in midfield during his time on the pitch.

The second half followed the theme of the first 30 minutes - it promised to entertain but never really did.

McClaren handed Aston Villa winger Ashley Young his debut and of all the five substitutions he made the biggest impression, making a number of probing runs down the left.

One such run and cross found the head of Crouch who, unmarked, managed to direct his eight-yard effort straight at Manninger, who deflected the ball away to safety.

Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria offered little in the game. Lone striker Sanel Kuljic, substituted in the second half, was provided with inadequate service despite his best attempts to make a nuisance of himself.

Great, Owen injured again just what we needed. We (Newcastle) payed 18 million two years ago for him and he's played 20-25 games!

I know he has been very unlucky though i like Owen i feel sorry for him

COME ON ISREAL DO US A FAVOR TODAY AND BEAT THE RUSSIANS

It aint gonna happen mate

we should be good enough not to need israeles help

I cant see us getting there,but we can always hope.i pretty shit that we have to rely on other teams when we should have toped the group easy..

Thje macedonia game was the one that F***ked us up at home.0-0

They just dissapoint us all the time

Who has county got today?

maccesfield at home

cool how are they playing?

thry are one place below county. County are playing with confidence at the mo,things are looking good these past few weeks since we got a new manager.

Who is the New manager? I hope you win anyway mate

Thank

ian Mcparland

hopefully italy will beat those sweaty socks today and get them out

For all you US football fans

South Africa 0-1 USA
(HT 0-1) USA