Euro 2008 Qualifier: Israel 0 England 0
Disgruntled England fans turned on coach Steve McClaren as their Euro 2008 qualification hopes took another downturn.
A 4,000-strong travelling army chanted 'What a load of rubbish' and 'You don't know what you're doing' as England drew their fourth blank in five games against a determined, but limited Israel outfit.
Taken in isolation, a draw in the Ramat Gan Stadium, where the hosts have lost just once in seven years, is no disaster.
But, given England's superiority, it was a definite chance missed and coming on the back of the disastrous October double-header during which they dropped two points at home to Macedonia before losing in Croatia, has raised major question marks over McClaren's ability to take them to next year's Finals in Austria and Switzerland.
Certainly, the patience of the paying public is wearing exceptionally thin, with support in some quarters disappearing altogether as England stumble on to Barcelona and a meaningless meeting with Group E minnows Andorra.
There was precious little evidence of the 'stand and deliver' rallying cry McClaren used to send his team into battle and, with seven games of the campaign still remaining, England can barely afford another slip if they are not to miss their first major tournament since the 1994 World Cup.
Having apparently administered a few choice words to his senior players behind closed doors to accompany his bold public utterances, McClaren was presumably not expecting the hesitant start England produced.
With Phil Neville and Carragher deployed in the full-back roles as predicted, it was perhaps little wonder there was an element of uncertainty within England's rearguard.
Neville in particular looked ill at ease and the Everton skipper's nerves were not helped when Rio Ferdinand sold him short with a square ball that allowed Toto Tamuz to nip in and thrash a shot into the side-netting.
It was the start of an enterprising evening for the Nigerian-born teenager who, like his team, threatened outside the England box but rarely looked as though they would score once they got within sight of Paul Robinson's goal.
Tamuz was the man who got on the end of Amit Ben Shushan's cross after Carragher had been exposed down England's left. Inexplicably, given the lack of cover afforded to the Liverpool man, Tamuz was all alone in the box as he rose to meet the ball, only to glance his header narrowly wide.
Lennon might have shouldered the blame for his failure to track back, yet it would be harsh to pin too much responsibility on the Tottenham youngster given the danger his speed posed at the other end.
On three separate occasions, Lennon stormed past startled Israeli defenders. How much more damage he would have caused had he been on his favoured right side is anyone's guess but it seemed a waste to utilise his great pace so fitfully, especially as 24 hours before kick-off McClaren was emphasising how valuable it was.
Carragher too could be pleased with his efforts, as, largely, could Owen Hargreaves, an ever-present in England's three wins under McClaren but absent in their four victory-less outings since.
Unfortunately, there was only the occasional sense either Wayne Rooney or Andrew Johnson could inspire in attack and with Israel keeper Dudu Aouate looking solid, England needed someone to produce a bit of magic.
The closest they came in the goalless opening period was when Steven Gerrard spotted Frank Lampard's forward burst and slid a pass through to the Chelsea man which, for a second looked as though it would lead to a breakthrough.
Unfortunately, the ball got stuck under Lampard's feet and, with Yuval Shpungin applying pressure, the Chelsea man could only nudge it straight to the onrushing Aouate.
Having left his perch in the stand for a dug-out berth two minutes before the break, McClaren used the interval to inject a bit more life into his forwards.
Bolton's Tal Ben Haim managed to reach Neville's low cross before Johnson could pounce, then Rooney burst through, only to spoil his own industry by ignoring better-placed team-mates to blast a shot straight at an Israeli defender.
Rooney has enjoyed plenty of personal success against Ben Haim this season, scoring five times against Bolton.
But the pair came out even after engaging in a bit of afters when Aouate just beat the duo to the rebound after he had spilled Lampard's well-struck volley. Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo booked them both.
England were now dominating and after Lampard glanced Lennon's cross fractionally wide, Johnson did the same when Gerrard picked him out from the other flank.
When Carragher met Lampard's corner with a firm header that bounced off the top of the bar, McClaren must have sensed it was not going to be his night.
And Aouate's close-range block of substitute Jermaine Defoe's late effort merely confirmed it.
A 4,000-strong travelling army chanted 'What a load of rubbish' and 'You don't know what you're doing' as England drew their fourth blank in five games against a determined, but limited Israel outfit.
Taken in isolation, a draw in the Ramat Gan Stadium, where the hosts have lost just once in seven years, is no disaster.
But, given England's superiority, it was a definite chance missed and coming on the back of the disastrous October double-header during which they dropped two points at home to Macedonia before losing in Croatia, has raised major question marks over McClaren's ability to take them to next year's Finals in Austria and Switzerland.
Certainly, the patience of the paying public is wearing exceptionally thin, with support in some quarters disappearing altogether as England stumble on to Barcelona and a meaningless meeting with Group E minnows Andorra.
There was precious little evidence of the 'stand and deliver' rallying cry McClaren used to send his team into battle and, with seven games of the campaign still remaining, England can barely afford another slip if they are not to miss their first major tournament since the 1994 World Cup.
Having apparently administered a few choice words to his senior players behind closed doors to accompany his bold public utterances, McClaren was presumably not expecting the hesitant start England produced.
With Phil Neville and Carragher deployed in the full-back roles as predicted, it was perhaps little wonder there was an element of uncertainty within England's rearguard.
Neville in particular looked ill at ease and the Everton skipper's nerves were not helped when Rio Ferdinand sold him short with a square ball that allowed Toto Tamuz to nip in and thrash a shot into the side-netting.
It was the start of an enterprising evening for the Nigerian-born teenager who, like his team, threatened outside the England box but rarely looked as though they would score once they got within sight of Paul Robinson's goal.
Tamuz was the man who got on the end of Amit Ben Shushan's cross after Carragher had been exposed down England's left. Inexplicably, given the lack of cover afforded to the Liverpool man, Tamuz was all alone in the box as he rose to meet the ball, only to glance his header narrowly wide.
Lennon might have shouldered the blame for his failure to track back, yet it would be harsh to pin too much responsibility on the Tottenham youngster given the danger his speed posed at the other end.
On three separate occasions, Lennon stormed past startled Israeli defenders. How much more damage he would have caused had he been on his favoured right side is anyone's guess but it seemed a waste to utilise his great pace so fitfully, especially as 24 hours before kick-off McClaren was emphasising how valuable it was.
Carragher too could be pleased with his efforts, as, largely, could Owen Hargreaves, an ever-present in England's three wins under McClaren but absent in their four victory-less outings since.
Unfortunately, there was only the occasional sense either Wayne Rooney or Andrew Johnson could inspire in attack and with Israel keeper Dudu Aouate looking solid, England needed someone to produce a bit of magic.
The closest they came in the goalless opening period was when Steven Gerrard spotted Frank Lampard's forward burst and slid a pass through to the Chelsea man which, for a second looked as though it would lead to a breakthrough.
Unfortunately, the ball got stuck under Lampard's feet and, with Yuval Shpungin applying pressure, the Chelsea man could only nudge it straight to the onrushing Aouate.
Having left his perch in the stand for a dug-out berth two minutes before the break, McClaren used the interval to inject a bit more life into his forwards.
Bolton's Tal Ben Haim managed to reach Neville's low cross before Johnson could pounce, then Rooney burst through, only to spoil his own industry by ignoring better-placed team-mates to blast a shot straight at an Israeli defender.
Rooney has enjoyed plenty of personal success against Ben Haim this season, scoring five times against Bolton.
But the pair came out even after engaging in a bit of afters when Aouate just beat the duo to the rebound after he had spilled Lampard's well-struck volley. Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo booked them both.
England were now dominating and after Lampard glanced Lennon's cross fractionally wide, Johnson did the same when Gerrard picked him out from the other flank.
When Carragher met Lampard's corner with a firm header that bounced off the top of the bar, McClaren must have sensed it was not going to be his night.
And Aouate's close-range block of substitute Jermaine Defoe's late effort merely confirmed it.
posted by dgarden at 3:05 pm
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