The unusual build-up to Israel's play-off against Denmark in Tel Aviv today should hardly come as a shock. The campaign has already seen the home coach Shlomo Scharf sack a goalkeeper on live television and threaten to break the camera of an unwanted Austrian television crew.
But as preparations go for their most important game in 10 years, Israel's hardly seem ideal. As if it were not enough that Scharf should address the media in the team hotel's bar (because no other space was available), the players have been told they will be sent packing if they speak to the press. Even so Celtic's Eyal Berkovic has announced on television that the squad is in poor shape.
The 44,000 sell-out crowd at the Ramat Gan stadium will be hoping the midfielder was merely suffering an after-effect of John Hartson's boot. But Celta Vigo's Haim Revivo is just coming back into form after injury and another factor seems to weigh against Israel as they look to qualify for their first major finals since the 1970 World Cup.
A lot of players who were very successful in Israel go abroad and find themselves on the bench or in the reserves. That has cost Aston Villa's Najwan Grayeb his place today and Wimbledon's Walid Badir does not start either.
The 34 goals Israel's eight qualifiers produced suggests this evening will not be dull, although Thomas Sorensen will be happy if it is - Sunderland's goalkeeper is standing by to make his debut for Denmark in place of Peter Schmeichel. The former Manchester United man, who has kept only two clean sheets with Sporting Lisbon this season, is struggling with a calf injury. Tottenham's Allan Nielsen is also doubtful.
Meanwhile, Oleg Luzhny is Ukraine's main worry for the first leg of their play-off against Slovenia in Ljubljana. The Arsenal fullback carries a groin strain from a Champions League match on November 2nd.
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