Israel-England match ends 0:0
Much anticipated Euro 2008 qualifier match in Ramat Gan disappoints in goalless draw
Israel and England played out a disappointing 0-0 draw in their Euro 2008 Group E qualifyinng match on Saturday to leave both frustrated and denting their hopes of reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year.
Needing a victory to get back in touch with the leaders, England failed to win or score for the third straight Group E game, and the pressure is building on coach Steve McClaren.
Israeli fans cheering in Ramat Gan
Neither team came close to scoring, although England's Jamie Carragher shaved the bar with a header in the 69th minute and Micah Richards and Jermain Defoe had the ball in the net three times late in the match from offside positions.
England showed a little more intensity in the early parts of the second half of an otherwise dull match.
Steven Gerrard bringing Toto Tamuz down.
Israel held their own in the first half and Toto Tamuz had two good chances within two minutes, the first a 17-meter low shot in the 27th minute from the left which forced England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to stretch to collect, and the second a header in the 29th which went wide.
England's early threats came from a speedy Aaron Lennon run in the ninth minute with a shot which went well over the bar and two soft headers from Wayne Rooney in the 18th minute and from Frank Lampard in the 22nd minute.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
