A gift from Israel
Israel 2 Russia 1 ( Tel Aviv European qualifier )
Having beaten Austria with a 44th minute Peter Crouch header in a friendly in Vienna a day earlier, England nervously watched Israel take on Russia. Elyaniv Barda toe-poked the ball past the on-rushing Russian keeper in the 10th minute, but the visitors finally got back on level terms in the 61st minute when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov thumped the ball past Dudu Aouate. Needing to win the match, Russia pushed forward and came agonisingly close in the dying minutes when Sychev saw his effort come off the outside of the post, but were caught out on the break when Omer Golan raced through in stoppage time to slide the ball past Gabulov and give Israel a 2-1 win which keeps England's hopes very much alive ahead of their crucial qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday.