Israel vs Croatia

[Stuttgart88]

I know we're all optimistic about the current squad's prospects but we've got to start winning away regularly before we can start to really believe our own hype. It'd represent the next step in our progress & it's a step up I think we're capable of.

I've spent all week slagging the English football team and their coach, but under Sven England almost invariably come away with the points in tricky away games.

It's a pity we're not bringing more fans out to Tel Aviv. I'm not going myself so I'm not complaining, but it could make a difference.

[Closed Account 2]

On paper, man for man, were the better team by some way, but all will depend on how we perform on the day. If we play like we did in Paris we'll win fairly comfortably, even if the Israelis play as well as they can. However, nothing with Ireland is as simple as it seems and over the past few years weve gone abroad to hostile crowds (ie loads of their fans few of us) and played badly, Tehran, Moscow, Switzerland*. On these occasions we didnt play well and drifted thru most of the game, if this happens in Tel Aviv I think we will be lucky to get a point.

I've seen a few tapes of the Israeli's recent games and I think Benayoun is the key threat, if we can get a midfielder to man mark him then we could nullify them as an attacking force. The only other players to watch I'd say are Afek (attacker in Spain with Racing Santander, but loaned to Salamancer), and Revivo (another attacker, used to play in Spain and Turkey but is q.old and more of a squad player now). I think the weak point could be their goalie(s), in the matches ive seen theyve had 2 keepers, ones not looked comfortable with crosses and the other tended to palm shots away rather than catch, some times he palm it right back into the danger zone. So I'd like to see midfielders like Keane, Reid, Holland, Kilbane etc having a crack if they get a bit of space.

Someone asked for their squad from the Croatia match, here it is:-

Israel squad
Davidovic (Maccabi Haifa FC), Awat (Real Racing Club Santander), Cohen (Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC), Benado (Maccabi Haifa FC), Ben Haim (Bolton Wanderers FC), Gershon (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Strul (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Keisi (Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC), Saban (Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC), Afek (UD Salamanca), Rabah (Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC), Tal (Maccabi Haifa FC), Badier (Maccabi Haifa FC), Nimni (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Suan (Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC), Shivhon (Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC), Revivo (FC Ashdod), Benayoun (Real Racing Club Santander), Katan (Maccabi Haifa FC), Balili (Kayserispor), Golan (Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC).

from Uefa.com

* I accept we took a few fans to the Swiss games but the noise they made and the design of the stadium etc meant it wasnt the athmosphere of say Paris '04, Amsterdam '00 etc

[eirebhoy]

I just hope I'm right come the final whistle in Tel Aviv.

Its nothing about being right or wrong. I don't like going into games like these being over-optimistic, I thought that was the job of the English.

[Littlest Hobo]

On paper, there's no contest. All our boyz are playing top stuff in the premier, they've only got Haim from Bolton. Never heard of half the clubs they play for.
This benyu bloke, sounds a rightful handful though.
Not too worried, coz we've taken care of better players in the past. Roy will sort him out.

I reckon this team will beat Israel.
Given
Finnan, Cunningham, O'Brien, O'Shea
Reid Keane Kilbane Holland
Duff
Keane

[Peadar]

I reckon this team will beat Israel.
Given
Finnan, Cunningham, O'Brien, O'Shea
Reid Keane Kilbane Holland
Duff
Keane

We have every reason to expect the same starting XI from the game v Portugal but with Roy in the centre instead of Kilbane.

[Stuttgart88]

Keane in for Holland is only change I'd expect. We should NEVER use Duff as an outright forward again. Total waste IMHO.

[Peadar]

Keane in for Holland is only change I'd expect.

I expect Kerr to be cautious and adopt a more defensive approach going into this game. Kilbane cost us the goal in Basel because he got caught in posession in a defensive position.
He's made up for it since then but may be an option from the bench for this game.

[Littlest Hobo]

Still reckon Kerr, will use the Keane/Kilbane/holland trio across midfield to hold benyu and his buddies. Duff to play out left, but drift in front of the trio to support robbie upfront. I'd drop morrisson and opt for the one striker.
Back line is same as v Portugal.

[Stuttgart88]

I can't see Kerr using a more defensive line-up for Israel than he did for the French in Paris. If he was going to alter the formation he'd have tried it against Portugal I'd say. It's possible he'll alter the shape during the game if things require changing. Injuries may force his hand yet though.

Anyway, that's just my view.

And I still blame Carr more than KK for the goal in Basle. Carr gave the hospital pass, KK was only the recipient.

[Peadar]

Carr gave the hospital pass, KK was only the recipient.

KK should have got it out left ASAP instead of trying to control it and play his way out. A Premiership player should have been more than capable of dealing with a pass like the one Carr played.
As I said, KK has made amends since so lets not dwell on it.
I would prefer to see KK rather than MH start alongside RK.