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.

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

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.

SWITZERLAND, with the influential Yakin brothers on board, will be favourites to run up their Group 4 scoring average against Israel at the national stadium in Ramat Gan today.

British journalist Peter Hounam was released from Israeli custody tonight after a day in custody on suspicions linked to freed nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu.