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Israel hosts Estonia in must-win qualifier
By Moshe Boker and Eli Shvidler , Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies
After a goalless draw against England last Saturday, Israel takes on minnows
Estonia tonight (Live broadcast, Ch. 1, 7 P.M.) in a match it must win
to retain any hope of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals.
"We must take all three points ... we know that if we don't our chances
will have gone," Israel captain Yossi Benayoun told a news conference
ahead of today's Group E qualifying match.
Saturday's draw with England left Israel fourth in the group, level on
points with third-placed England but three points behind Russia and five
adrift of leader Croatia.
West Ham United midfielder Benayoun said the players were ready for a
tough encounter with Estonia, which has yet to score a goal or collect
a point in the seven-team group.
"I would like to win 3-0 or 4-0 but we will have to work very hard
against Estonia to get the three points. They will throw everything into
defense to try and avoid conceding a goal," Benayoun said.
Israel coach Dror Kashtan said any result other than a win would be disappointing.
"On paper we are favorites, we are better than Estonia. But in that
also lies the danger, because in such situations people tend to take things
easy," Kashtan said.
Israel has Maccabi Haifa striker Roberto Colautti and Bolton Wanderers
midfielder back in the team after missing the England game because of
suspension.
Colautti who scored on his debut in a 1-0 win in Tallinn last September
replaces Sivaspor's Pini Balili, while Beitar's Arik Benado loses his
place to Tal.
After the the media circus that preceded the England match only a handful
of photographers turned up at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan yesterday
to take pictures of the Estonia team.
Instead of the frenzy that accompanied Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and
Steven Gerrard, the atmosphere at Ramat Gan yesterday was reminiscent
of preparations for a friendly international, as lesser known luminaries
such as Andres Oper and Liivo Leetma worked out on the field.
The Estonians are looking for a first goal in the qualifying tournament
and judging by what they showed in practice, they will be trying to score
a header from a set piece.
Lokomotiv Moscow defender Dimitri Kruglov said Estonia needed to play
the same kind of game it played against Israel in Tallinn. "We created
chances and were close to scoring," he said. "The key factor
will be concentration. If we make a mistake we will be punished immediately."
Estonia coach Jelle Goes noted that his team had created nine scoring
chances in the first game between the sides, while Israel had made only
three.
Goes however praised the Israeli side, saying it was the clear favorite.
"Israel is an outstanding home team that combines young players like
Toto Tamuz and Yuval Spungin with veteran players," Goes said.
Haaretz,
March 28, 2007.
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