Israel name squad

Israel v England
European Championship 2008 Qualifier, Group E
6.30pm, Saturday 24 March 2007
Ramat Gan Stadium, Tel Aviv
Current group standings - click here
Archive: England's record with Israel - click here

Israel have named their squad to face England in the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier in Tel Aviv this month, with coach Dror Kashtan naming a similar set of players that have contested Group E to this point.

Captain Yossi Benayoun is among the Premier League contingent, along with Chelsea striker Ben Sahar and Bolton duo Ben Haim and Idan Tal.

While Idan Tal and top scorer Roberto Colautti are both suspended for the meeting with the Three Lions, they are both available for Israel's game with Estonia four days later.

Dror Kashtan took charge of Israel last year following their narrow failure to qualify for the World Cup from a group that included France, Switzerland and Republic of Ireland.

Kashtan's first game in charge came just a day before Steve McClaren's first game against Greece, and under their new coach Israel have won one match of the six they have played, losing two and drawing the other three.

McClaren will be familiar with another of Israel's midfielders, Walid Badir who once famously scored for Wimbledon at Old Trafford in a 1-1 draw when McClaren was the assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Badir, along with Benayoun, will be key figures for Israel in the absence of Idan Tal, and the midfield pair have over 100 caps between them.

Israel are seeking to qualify for their first major tournament since 1970, and in the last seven years Israel have played 54 matches, winning 21, drawing 19, and losing 15, and they remained unbeaten in ten games during the qualifying section for the World Cup 2006 - holding France and Switzerland to draws.