Soccer: Unbeaten Israel aim to keep dominance

Croatia go into Wednesday's Euro 2008 Group E qualifier with Israel in Tel Aviv knowing that they will need some luck as well as a good performance if they are to beat the host team at their home fortress.

Israel, unbeaten in their last 13 qualifying matches in the European Championship and the World Cup, are equal on points with Croatia, England and Macedonia in a tight group and have not lost in Tel Aviv for seven years.

All four teams have seven points, but Croatia and Israel have played three matches, England and Macedonia have played four. The other teams in the group are Russia, Estonia and Andorra.

Yossi Benayoun, Israel's captain and inspirational midfielder is an injury worry after being diagnosed with a partial knee ligament tear picked up while playing in West Ham's 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

After arriving to join his team mates, Benayoun said on Monday that he was determined to play, however.

Israel's young lineup will be largely new to spectators who last saw their national team play on home soil over a year ago. Many of the players have been drafted from the under-21 side which qualified for the European Championship finals last month.

A familiar face missing from Israel's squad is powerful Maccabi Haifa forward Yaniv Katan who is injured.

'Very tough match'

Israel coach Dror Kashtan said: "Croatia are the strongest team in the group… they are disciplined and organized and have excellent players who play in the best clubs across Europe. We can expect a very tough match."

Croatia go into the clash without two regulars, midfielder Milan Rapaic of Standard Liege and Werder Bremen striker Ivan Klasnic who are injured.

Bilic has called up Parma forward Igor Budan as a replacement for Klasnic.

Israel and Croatia have met four times previously with the Croats winning twice, Israel once and one draw. All four matches were friendlies. The first encounter between the two sides in Tel Aviv in 1994 ended in a 4-0 win for Israel.

Probable teams

Israel: Dudu Aouate; Omri Afek, Tal Ben Haim, Tomer Ben Yosef, Adoram Keisi; Walid Badir, Idan Tal, Yossi Benayoun, Michael Zandberg; Amit Ben Shushan, Roberto Colautti.

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Dario Simic, Josip Simunic, Robert Kovac, Vedran Corluka, Niko Kovac, Darijo Srna, Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Eduardo Da Silva, Mladen Petric.

Referee: Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez (Spain)