Ian Harte returned from a 13-month international exile to win his 59th cap for the Republic of Ireland as manager Brian Kerr turned to the left-back to help solve his defensive problems.

SKY SPORTS likes to call them “massive, massive games”; Brian Kerr has settled for “absolutely crucial”.

BRIAN KERR will wait until later today at the earliest before making a final decision on the availability of Steve Finnan for tomorrow’s World Cup game against Israel at Lansdowne Road.

Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr today put his players under pressure by insisting Saturday’s crunch World Cup clash against Israel is “a game we should win”.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND striker Robbie Keane has warned Israel revenge will be in the air at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

ISRAEL coach Avraham Grant has warned Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr he will stop at nothing to ensure his nation’s World Cup dream is not extinguished.

Israel coach Avraham Grant has warned Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr he will stop at nothing to ensure his nation’s World Cup dream is not extinguished.

Israel 1 France 1

ISRAEL are fearful of a frustrated French side who still have not managed to find their goal-scoring touch when the two teams meet in their World Cup European Group Four qualifier tonight.

France coach Raymond Domenech claims his team are still brimming with confidence even though their World Cup qualifying campaign has so far failed to fuel the imagination.

“ABBAS is Jewish, Abbas is Jewish,” chanted 41,000 delirious Israelis after the Bnei Sakhnin midfielder had equalised against Ireland at the Ramat Gan Stadium. The irony of it all wasn’t lost on any of them.

HOLDING the ball up well and using it intelligently, you could argue that Robbie Keane was Ireland’s best player on Saturday night.

TRAWL through your memories of Ireland’s famous away days of the recent past and games like Copenhagen and Seville in ‘93 or Amsterdam and Lisbon in 2001 probably come somewhere near the top of the list.

THE last time Tel Aviv got this excited about a football match in its own back yard the Berlin Wall was still thumbing its grubby nose at the west.

THE Republic of Ireland squad held most of their training session behind closed doors in Tel Aviv yesterday, and by the time the media were granted access to the Blumfield Stadium, first impressions were decidedly mixed.

Israel captain Avi Nimni believes the country’s supporters could carry the side to what he feels would be one of the best results in their history.

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has warned his players that Israel are far too good to be only considered the dark horses of their World Cup qualifying group.

ISRAEL manager Avraham Grant has claimed it will be an unfamiliar Israel team that Brian Kerr’s Republic of Ireland will face on Saturday week.

Liam Mackey

ISRAEL last night joined Ireland and France at the top of World Cup qualifying group four. All are on eight points following the Israeli’s 2-1 away victory over Cyprus on a wet night on the Mediterranean island.

Avi Nimni’s late strike saw Israel claim a 2-1 win in Cyprus and move level on points with Ireland and France at the top of Group Four.

ISRAEL coach Avraham Grant dropped Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper Liran Strauber yesterday as he finalised his squad for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Switzerland.

GUINEA’S President Lansana Conte has rewarded the national soccer team with gifts of two tractors and land to show his appreciation after they routed Botswana 4-0 to move to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.

THE Israeli national squad, which will contest the World Cup Group Four Qualifiers with the Republic of Ireland, are severely lacking in physical fitness compared to European national teams.