England’s Under-21 football team, already eliminated from the UEFA Under-21 Finals in Israel, after losing their first two games, were beaten 1-0 by Israel in Jerusalem’s Teddy Kolleck stadium, to be left at the bottom of their group, having accumulated no points and having scored just one goal in their three group games (and that goal was from the penalty spot).
Israel also finally went out having won one, drawn one and lost one, although it all could have been so different had they not conceded a last-minute equaliser against Norway in their first game. England left the tournament in disarray, which doesn’t bode well for the future of England’s senior team.
More than 22,000 fans in Israel’s capital Jerusalem watched a first half in which both teams matched each other but with neither side being able to finish. However, Israel stepped up a gear toward the end of the game and struck the bar with a dipping shot from 30 yards out and then almost chipped England’s goalkeeper who found himself stranded, before Israel finally crashed the ball home with just ten minutes left, to the delight of the home fans.
Visit CIFWatch for many, many more pictures of the match.