France drop vital points

Israel 1 France 1

He saw Israel do unto France what they had done to Ireland - equalise late on to secure another 1-1 draw in the Ramat Gan.

The two points dropped by both sides keeps things very tight at the top of Group 4. Ireland, with nine points, are now one behind both France and Israel, with no one side in the top four yet able to gain a clear advantage.

Switzerland’s 1-0 victory over Cyprus last night sees them level on nine points with the Republic.

And there was a further boost for Kerr with the news that French striker David Trezeguet will miss the meeting with the Republic on September 7, after receiving a red card for a headbutt on Israel’s Ben Haim.

Trezeguet went from hero to villain in the space of five minutes, putting France one up in the 50th minute. His 31st goal in 58 appearances put him ahead of legend Just Fontaine into second place behind the 41 of Michel Platini in France’s all-time scoring list.

But he will not remember the night fondly as he promptly receiving his marching orders for a self-destructive response to a hefty challenge which gained Ben Haim a yellow card, ruling him out of the June 4 game in Dublin.

Eight minutes from the end, Walid Badier took advantage of a Fabien Barthez mistake to bring the game level, and send the watching Republic of Ireland manager away with a smile on his face.

Tension, non-existent on Saturday night, was evident from the outset. Home supporters booed and whistled during the French national anthem having being angered at what they saw as anti-Israel comments made by France goalkeeper Barthez at the squad’s training camp last week.

Barthez had said he feared for his safety and did not want to play in a country where the match had to be secured by armed guards.

Referee Markus Merk stamped his authority early on with a yellow card for Badier’s late tackle on Patrick Vieira having also fouled Alou Diarra moments before.

The French coach Raymond Domenech’s decision to field three ball winners in midfield in Vieira, Diarra and Benoit Pedretti clearly blunted Israel’s physical threat but also stifled their own creativity going forward.

There were only two real chances on goal in the first 45 minutes, both by French strikers.

On the half hour, Trezeguet managed to keep three defenders at bay as he controlled a William Gallas cross from the left to shoot just past the right-hand post of keeper Dudu Awat. And several minutes later, Wiltord hit a superb volley from a Willy Sagnol cross, forcing a fine save from Awat.

Five minutes after the break, France got the breakthrough goal. Wiltord crossed from the right to the far post and Trezeguet’s downward header found the net after making the most of poor Israeli defending. Moments later the Juve man was redcarded and France began to struggle.

From then on, Israel pushed forward, trying to make their numerical superiority count and Yossi Benayoun shot just past Barthez’s right hand post following confusion in France’s defence.

Barthez then parried away a header from substitute Omri Afek, who also had another chance from a header at the ensuing corner.

Then came Badier’s equaliser in the 83rd minute which had most of the 43,000 crowd celebrating. From an Adoram Keisi centre on the left, unmarked Badier headed home at the far post after Barthez could only get his fingertips to the cross.

There were starkly contrasting reactions from the two manager in the aftermath. France coach Raymond Domenech said:

“I’m disappointed by the result. We showed quality in our play until the goal and they had not had a chance until that point.

“But after the sending off we really suffered when they pushed forward. It’s a pity because there wasn’t much between the two sides.”

His Israeli counterpart Avraham Grant wore a large smile in the post match press conference.

“I would like to thank my team and the 43,000 supporters who bought tickets tonight. We thought we could have even won this game against the second best team in the world. This draw is a great result.”

In Zurich, Alex Frei scored a late winner to give the Swiss a 1-0 victory over unfancied Cyprus.

Outplayed by the islanders for much of the first half, the Swiss dominated after the break but had to wait until two minutes from time to claim all three points when Frei headed in a cross by Ludovic Magnin. It was the Rennes striker’s 17th goal in 34 appearances for Switzerland.

Having themselves taken on the role of underdogs in Saturday’s goalless draw in France, the Swiss seemed uncomfortable with their status as hot favourites for most of Wednesday’s match.

With only one point from their five previous Group Four matches, Cyprus missed several chances to take a shock lead early on, most notably through PAOK Saloniki striker Michalis Constantinou.

The Cypriots’ misfortune was compounded in injury time when stand-in goalkeeper Nikos Panayiotou was sent off for a professional foul on teenage striker Johan Vonlanthen.