Benny does Frank

  • by Matthew O'Greel
  • Saturday, 24th March 2007

A Yossi Benayoun-led Israel upset the odds to hold England to a goalless draw in their European Championship qualifier tonight.

Steve McClaren's hapless England side - which included former Hammers Rio Ferdinand, Jermain Defoe and Frank Lampard - were humiliated on foreign shores once again after they failed to break the deadlock against an Israeli side which spent much of the game camped inside their own half.

Benayoun - who appeared to have made a remarkable recovery from the injury which had kept him out of club action last weekend - led his side to one of their most famous results with a fully-committed performance, the likes of which Alan Curbishley - and Hammers fans - will be hoping he can repeat against Middlesbrough next weekend.

In other games, Wales - featuring West Ham United's James Collins - lost 1-0 to Ireland in their Group D qualifier; the winning goal coming from Stephen Ireland.

Christian Dailly - who hit out at his club team-mates on Friday for lacking focus - was an unused substitute as Scotland beat Georgia 2-1, as was Roy Carroll who watched Northern Ireland's 4-1 in Liechtenstein from the comfort of the away bench.

Meanwhile, Lucas Neill's Australia (aka the Quantas Socceroos) won 2-0 in China thanks to first half goals by Brett Holman and Marco Bresciano.

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