It wasn't the defence that was strong, it was the Ref awarding that free-kick to the wrong team. Chiellini fouled Hutton, not the other way round.

Scottish In Need or Children In Need?

But hey, if Russia come back from 1-0 down again, the Home Championship is back on :lol:

 

More history in that than the little old european championship :P

Does that have anything to do with the fact you love Travis??:rolleyes:

 

hmmm, maybe, lol. let's say it has something to do with travis and the fact i love scotland in general. ;)

plus, since the world cup i always want italy to lose anyway!! ;D but that's of course nothing personal...

Was that the world cup which was won by the cheaters? (source sky sports)

Israel 1-0 Russia HT

 

Roman Abramovich not happy at the break :dozey:

 

Well he could always bung the officials.......................... :rolleyes:

hmmm, maybe, lol. let's say it has something to do with travis and the fact i love scotland in general. ;)

plus, since the world cup i always want italy to lose anyway!! ;D but that's of course nothing personal...

 

I agree, because of the way they won it.;)

Well he could always bung the officials.......................... :rolleyes:

 

You never know with Russia.

 

Interesting stuff happening at Northern Ireland v Denmark, will it or won't it go ahead?

You never know with Russia.

 

Interesting stuff happening at Northern Ireland v Denmark, will it or won't it go ahead?

 

Does it matter either way??:rolleyes:

It does, if either Denmark/Northern Ireland win their 2 remaining games, if Spain lose in Sweden

Israel 2-1 Russia!!! FT

Thank you Israel :)

 

We now only need a draw on Wednesday, but press for a win :)

Israel 2-1 Russia!!! FT

 

Incredible! We might get out of jail yet.................... :rolleyes:

What do you care anyhow Mark, the Germans are already through :P

 

The fate of England is back into England's hands.

What do you care anyhow Mark, the Germans are already through :P

 

 

I couldn't give a t*ss.................. :rolleyes:

I've never done so much 'flicking' in all my life! Watching Scotland then Israel then Scotland again, I've got RSI:rolleyes:

 

Job still isn't done for England though, it's very easy to rule out a Croat win at Wembley, but they will play with freedom given they're now qualified :stunned:

England are the luckiest bunch of overrated tossers in the world. Hopefully the Croats will beat us and we don't get in.

Yessssssssss, the Azzurri did it.:D

England are the luckiest bunch of overrated tossers in the world. Hopefully the Croats will beat us and we don't get in.

 

Completely untrue. Russia got what they deserved for cheating by using a plastic pitch.

If England beat Croatia, they will deserve to have qualified.:smug:

England are the luckiest bunch of overrated tossers in the world. Hopefully the Croats will beat us and we don't get in.

 

And knowing Andorra would beat Russia :lol:

scotland are out.england need to up their own game for the croatia match. its not over yet. the 1-0 win over austria was not convincing and with nearly half of the englanfd team out by eithier injury or suspension itll stiil be tough. and the isreal game.WTF,my heart was reallly in my mouth,Russia so deserved to win but im still scratching my head over the goal they scored in injury time.:confused: But i still went crazy now knowing England got a better chance to qualify. Anyway if you finnish second you still get another qualifiying match to win and that could be tough.:\

Using a plastic pitch isn't cheating for heaven's sake. FIFA wouldn't have allowed it if it were. Just because England went there and lost doesn't mean the opposition automatically cheated.

Using a plastic pitch isn't cheating for heaven's sake. FIFA wouldn't have allowed it if it were. Just because England went there and lost doesn't mean the opposition automatically cheated.

 

The governing body bottled it. If plastic pitches aren't allowed in the Champions' League, they shouldn't be permitted in international matches either. There should be a level playing field.:smug:

Oh, and it was never a penalty, either.....................

I wonder why the Russians heavily watered the plastic pitch close to kick off (and at half time), when:-

 

1) Um.. plastic doesn't die when it's dry

2) It was close to freezing at the time

 

:thinking:

Beat Russia and win a Merc - that's a Done deal for Israel and punters

 

One bookmaker has come up with an unusual offer in an attempt to put England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's European Championship back into their own hands. For that to happen, of course, Israel must take points off Russia in Tel Aviv tomorrow. Steve McClaren has been insisting that all is not lost for England, saying: "Going away to Israel is very, very tough. They are a proud nation. They have a great home record."

 

Something a little more tangible to the home coach's players, however, might be the £50,000 Mercedes that Betfred's owner, Fred Done, is offering to any Israel player who scores the winning goal against Guus Hiddink's side.

Done, moreover, is confident England will qualify somehow. His firm will lay you 12-1 about McClaren's side winning Euro 2008 with the insurance that if they do not qualify punters' money will be returned, with the caveat that all bets must be placed before the Israel v Russia kick-off. Although that price has shrunk from the 20-1 available last Saturday, when the concession was first announced, it remains a bet to nothing. Should England qualify bettors can lay the bet off at a shorter price thus guaranteeing profit whereas if they fail the money is returned.

 

Those with more faith can back England at 20-1 (Bet Direct and Ladbrokes) to win Euro 2008 or 9-4 (Totesport) to qualify for the finals. Ladbrokes offers just 2-5 they miss out featuring at the finals of a major tournament for the first time since 1994. At the head of the outright market, Germany are 11-2 (Coral) favourites, Italy 7-1 (Ladbrokes), Holland 8-1 (general), France 8-1 (general) and Spain 9-1 (Ladbrokes).

 

A better bet to win Euro 2008 could be Portugal at 10-1 (general). They lost to Greece in the final in the last European Championship before reaching the semi-finals in last summer's World Cup so a speculative each-way ante-post punt at double-figure odds could reap rewards.

 

For the game all England fans will be watching tomorrow, Russia are 8-15 (Stan James), Israel 13-2 (Bet365) with the draw 16-5 (Bet365). The pair drew 1-1 in Moscow just over a year ago, but then Israel, obviously, had something to play for. Without the injured Yossi Benayoun Israel look short of creativity and, as they have not scored in their last two qualifiers, they probably will not trouble a Russian side that have managed seven clean sheets in 10 Group E fixtures. Paddy Power's offer of 4-5 about Russia shutting out Israel, therefore, looks worth taking.

 

Of course McClaren will be hoping Israel can also keep a clean sheet (9-2 with Paddy Power) as their defeat could mean the end of his reign as England's head coach. Ladbrokes offers 4-6 that tonight's friendly with Austria will be his last in charge of the national side, with Martin O'Neill 5-2 favourite to take over.

 

England are 4-5 (Totesport) to beat Austria, who trade at 9-2 (Bet365) with the draw 5-2 (Boyle Sports and Power). Whether next Wednesday's qualifier against Croatia will have any meaning is unknown, so bookmakers are reluctant to price it up. Paddy Power, though, go 5-1 about Slaven Bilic's side winning at Wembley, with England 1-2 and 5-2 the draw.

 

Scotland are 5-2 (Power) to make it to Austria and Switzerland next year and 1-3 (general) not to. They will definitely qualify if they defeat Italy. Alex McLeish's men are rated as 11-4 (general) to do so, the world champions 11-10 (general) and the draw 9-4 (Betfred). The Azzurri have won their last four away qualifiers but a draw would almost certainly be enough for them to qualify as they play the Faroe Islands next Wednesday at home in their last Group B fixture. Scotland are unbeaten at home during qualification and have not failed to score on home turf for more than two years. The last two meetings at Hampden Park between these two sides ended all square and that looks the best bet tomorrow.

 

http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2212077,00.html

betfred Owner Offers Mercedes in Israel vs. Russia Football Matchup

 

 

Israel vs. Russia is key to England's future and at least one British bookmaker is willing to do his part in enticing Israel players to beat Russia Saturday.

 

Fred Done, founder of BetFred.com, has offered one of his prized possessions to any Israel player who scores the winning goal against Guus Hiddink's Russian side. That player will receive Done's £50,000 Mercedes, according to the Guardian Newspaper. :D

 

Getting England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's European Championship back into their own hands will require Israel taking points off Russia in Tel Aviv tomorrow.

 

Steve McClaren has been insisting that all is not lost for England, saying: "Going away to Israel is very, very tough. They are a proud nation. They have a great home record."

 

BetFred.com has given England 12/1 odds of qualifying for Euro 2008. The Guardian has reported that Done's firm will lay you 12-1 about McClaren's side winning Euro 2008 with the insurance that if they do not qualify punters' money will be returned, with the caveat that all bets must be placed before the Israel v Russia kick-off.

 

If Russia beat Israel and Andorra, and Croatia earn a point in Macedonia or at Wembley on Wednesday, England will fail to qualify for next summer's finals.

 

"There is still a long way to go and a lot of events to unfold," says McClaren.

 

If Russia draw, then England will need to beat group leaders Croatia in their last qualifying game, at Wembley on Wednesday.

 

But if Russia lose to Israel, then a point would be sufficient for McClaren's side against Croatia.

 

"It is hypothetical talking about the future when there are so many events still involved," said McClaren. "Hopefully, the result will go right for us on Saturday night (between Israel and Russia) and we will be able to qualify when we play Croatia."

 

McClaren could lose his job should England fail to qualify for the 2008 Euro.

 

http://www.gambling911.com/Israel-vs-Russia-Football-111607.html