Euro 2008 qualifiers preview.

It's Dror Kashtan v Guus Hiddink. Israel v Russia in Tel Aviv on Saturday 17th November. Russia manager Guus Hiddink is apparently popular in Israel as his family helped Jews escape from the Nazis in World War II. If Russia win, England are effectively out of the Euro 2008 finals. If Israel draw or win, then England can beat Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday to progress.
Croatia first have to play a tricky match against Macedonia on Saturday 17th November.
Better England don't qualify if the team is not likely to at least be contenders to win the Euro 2008 trophy. Strangely there is still a strong anti-Crouch sentiment in England and elsewhere, despite his scoring yet again for the national team in the friendly 1-0 victory against Austria in Vienna. That game saw yet another injury to Owen; he will be out of action for a month, meaning the task of beating Croatia will be perhaps harder. But England have attacking power - many of their players can score goals - the team is not a one-trick pony as some suggest.