Fans hope Israeli defence will part like Red Sea

THEY will wait until sundown and the end of the Sabbath before kick-off in tonight’s game. With the weekend that’s in it, it’s hard to ignore the Biblical analogies.

Brian Kerr as our own Moses, leading us to the Promised Land of the World Cup in Germany? The Israeli defence parting like the Red Sea before the Duffer and Robbie Keane? These are the kind of blasphemous thoughts occupying the minds of Irish fans on the eve of a vital World Cup qualifier (and Easter). For that we ask forgiveness.

The game has attracted huge coverage both here and in Israel, where the home nation is treating it as evidence of growing national optimism, with their team reflecting a growth in their fortunes.