Match Summary

England Team

Israel Team

    Match Report (Mike Payne's exclusive report coming shortly)

England outclassed Israel in this, the latest Group E qualifier, and their quest to reach the European Championship finals next year has moved on.  It was a good all round performance with some exciting individual displays too.

England made a positive start and Steven Gerrard looked in good form.  He produced some lovely passes, especially to the wingers, and chances were soon being created.  Emile Heskey missed a great chance in the 10^th minute when he fluffed his shot after Michael Owen had set him up with a knock back.  The only way that Israel looked like scoring was if England gave them a chance on a plate.  A mistake by Joe Cole was only rescued by Micah Richards's pace and tackle, but half way through the first period the pressure was relieved when England scored their first goal.  Gerrard and Heskey had both gone close but when the two Coles, Ashley and Joe, combined in a move down the left, the latter produced an excellent cross to pick out Shaun Wright- Phillips as he sprinted through the middle.  Wright-Phillips expertly volleyed the ball past the Israel goalkeeper Dudu Aouate.

In the 37^th minute Owen fired in two shots in quick succession but managed to hit the goalkeeper both times.  The fierce pressure continued right up until the break and 1-0 hardly reflected England's dominance.

It was clear that England needed another goal to put them at their ease and it duly came just four minutes into the second half.  Good work by Heskey, Richards and then Gareth Barry was not defended by Israel, which gave Barry the chance to pass forward to Owen.  The Newcastle player needed no second bidding and turned sharply to shoot home from 18 yards, his 38^th goal for his country.

After 66 minutes the icing on the cake came in the form of a first goal from the impressive Richards.  The Manchester City full-back gives England plenty of attacking options and he is a real find.  Gerrard's corner should have been the goalkeeper's ball but he ran in to Owen to leave Richards with the chance to power a header home.  Aouate protested but Owen was blameless and the goal stood.  England were now home and dry and Steve McLaren sent on Andy Johnson and, for his first cap, David Bentley for the last 20 minutes.  It was useful experience for both, indeed, Johnson almost set up Owen for another goal only for a defender to clear the shot off the line.

An easy win for England and now they move on to the next challenge, a visit from the Russians on Wednesday next.  That should prove a much stiffer task.