Injuries hamper England in Israel

Friday, 23 March 2007
by Paul Safferfrom London
Five teams are separated by just three points in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group E - but the pre-qualifying favourites England go to Israel on Saturday knowing defeat would leave them in stark danger of missing out on the European finals for the first time in nearly 25 years.
Close groupBoth Israel and England have seven points - three behind Croatia, one adrift of Russia and level with F.Y.R. Macedonia - and with the campaign reaching its halfway point for both nations by Wednesday, losing any more ground would be anathema to these sides. Especially so for England, who have not sat out a major finals since 1994, and have not failed to reach the showpiece stage of this competition since 1984, when only eight teams qualified.
England injuriesEngland manager Steve McClaren has been in the job less than a year, but a home draw with F.Y.R. Macedonia and 2-0 defeat in Croatia in October meant the media criticism so familiar to his predecessors has been pointed in his direction. And his cause for the game in Tel-Aviv has not been helped by a spate of injuries; Jonathan Woodgate pulled out on Thursday with a knee problem to join Gary Neville, Wayne Bridge and Darren Bent in withdrawing since the squad announcement a week ago. Joe Cole and Peter Crouch were already unavailable and Ashley Cole is suspended for the Israel match, so Gareth Barry has been summoned along with Luke Young and Under-21 forward David Nugent.
Johnson chanceMcClaren remains typically upbeat, and has hinted that he could combine Wayne Rooney up front with Andy Johnson. "I can see potential in Johnson and Rooney together," McClaren said. "He has had a good season with Everton [FC]. He is a team player. Strikers have to work as hard as anyone to defend. Andrew Johnson does that. Wayne Rooney does that. Defenders don't like to play against strikers like that."
Teen strikersIsrael have fewer selection worries but are without English-based midfielder Idan Tal and striker Roberto Colautti while fellow forward Yaniv Katan has a cracked rib, opening the door for 17-year-old Chelsea FC starlet Ben Sahar, who made his debut last month in a 1-1 friendly draw with Ukraine, and Toto Tamuz, 18, the son of Nigerians who was adopted and raised in Israel and last week granted full citizenship. Tal has hailed the pair, saying: "Sahar is only 17 but is already a household name in Israel and is getting the best grounding of all at Chelsea. Toto has fantastic natural ability - he could be a world-class striker in years to come."
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