Ireland must keep eye on the ball

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

But however you choose to bill this evening's clash between the Republic of Ireland and Israel, there's no doubt it's the biggest home tie of the World Cup campaign so far and one which, for both sides, will go a long way to shaping their destiny in a hugely competitive Group 4.

Surprise high-fliers Israel go into the game without two of the team which earned a 1-1 draw against the Irish in Tel Aviv last March. Influential midfielder Walid Badier is one of those missing but arguably of greater significance on an evening when they will be expecting to defend for long periods, is the absence of Bolton's Tal Ben Haim at the back, where Avi Yehiel could be drafted in by Avraham Grant for his very first cap.