Has the match schedule been determined yet? I read that the countries were meeting in Israel to choose it on January 8th.
Re: Group 2 fixtures Latvia and Greece couldn't agree so we all got screwed and now FIFA will decide the fixtures.
Re: Group 2 fixtures http://www.eofl.co.uk/wc2010/ says "With the exception of UEFA Group 5 all other schedules for the qualification matches have now been uploaded and are available via the links above." but they don't have UEFA Group 2. Wikipedia says the Group 2 fixtures will be decided on January 30.
Re: Group 2 fixtures Here it is the draw was just completed how did we do? http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/europe_group_2_35427.pdf
Re: Group 2 fixtures I like that we open against Switzerland at home and then play them again at the end of the campaign. I also like that we play Greece home and away one after the other... We should qualify regardless...this is our best chance yet...
Re: Group 2 fixtures i am curious to see what israel wanted originally. having greece back to back doesnt sound too good, because if a key player like benayoun is hurt around then hell miss both games.
Re: Group 2 fixtures Kashtan needs to get some of these kids to play more games for their respective clubs to be prepared. Tal Ben Haim is on bench at chelsea, with players like Alex, belletti, terry,ferrara, carvahlo, ashley cole,,bridge,,, he will hardly get to play and will be in bad shape come qualifier time Sahar, still young however in 2nd division. Tal, god knows if he'll ever play for israel again.
Re: Group 2 fixtures That's Ben Ham's fault. I believe he was sought after by Newcastle or he probably could've stayed at Bolton. Bad decision for his career to go to Chelsea. On the other hand, Benayoun has done well at Liverpool. Tamir Cohen has gotten plenty of appearances at Bolton, though I haven't followed them.
Re: Group 2 fixtures according to the sun , Tal Ben Haim threw alot of bad words at grant. He said he came for Jose M, and if he knew grant was going to be coach , he never would of came to chelsea. This is just like the Eyal Berkovich battle with Grant. Ben Haim was fined 80,000Euro for his comments. I like Ben Haim, I think he's brilliant and respect Grant alot however I feel they need to repair their relationship immediately, especially since Grant will take charge of Israel again after Kashtan's reign. I understand each of their positions, Grant dealing with alot right now and is distracted by the present situation of the club, Ben Haim frustraited for not playing such a long time without discussions about it. Grant needs to address Ben Haim in a positive way and Ben Haim should never of attacked Grant publicly.
Re: Group 2 fixtures I'm just glad we have this guy in Goal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57l0WzqMfDA It's going to be touch with Swiss sitting next to us, but boys get ready for a wild and heavy qualifiers and our birth for the 2010WC. We will be there.
Re: Group 2 fixtures Why aren't we playing any friendlies? The teams we will be battling to qualify will be strong after Euro08, and everyone else is playing friendlies. What do our players have to do all summer?
Re: Group 2 fixtures We have an away friendly against Finland on Aug. 20th but I'm not sure if that's enough...they should schedule something against a top team that didn't make the Euros' (ie. England) I wouldn't mind a lower tier team either to prepare us for the lower teir teams in our qualifying group...
Re: Group 2 fixtures yup, I agree we need at least two friendlies during the summer to get us prepared. we need a better coach for the NT anyways.
Re: Group 2 fixtures One of the better chances for Israel to qualify, but still Greece is a tough cookie to crack they are effective against top ranked teams and the Swiss are no push overs. Israel has to qualify in 1st place from this group if they want to go to the World Cup, because if they fail and get 2nd they will have to go into a playoff against tougher teams then Greece.