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By Ori Lewis
TEL AVIV, Oct 8 - Israel beat Group Four
makeweights Faroe Islands 2-1 on Saturday, but the result looks
unlikely to be enough to leave them with a chance of sneaking a
play-off spot for the World Cup finals.
In the tightest group in the entire qualifying tournament,
Israel grabbed top spot but have now completed their progamme
and must hope for the right combination of results from the
final round of matches to keep their finals bid alive.
Israel have 18 points, with Switzerland and France on 17
with one game each to play. Ireland, in fourth place, have 16
points and play host to the Swiss in their final game on
Wednesday. France take on Cyprus.
Israel took an early lead from Yossi Benayoun after only 50
seconds when Faroes goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen let the ball roll
across his goalmouth from a back-pass by defender Jon Jakobsen,
leaving the West Ham United midfielder with an easy finish.
Substitute Michael Zandberg added Israel's second in the
first minute of injury time but Simun Samuelssen hit back with
the Faroes fourth goal of the entire competition a minute later.
It was a disappointing night out for the 31,500 supporters
who were hoping to see a goal rout.
"Nobody, not even the most optimistic fans would have
thought at the beginning of this campaign that we might still be
waiting for other results to see if we have a chance of making
it to the finals at the end," said Israel coach Avraham Grant.
"France scored less goals than we have but they took their
chances. We have built up a group of strikers whom I am sure
will make their mark in the next campaign," Grant added.
Grant, whose position is under review in the coming weeks,
refused to discuss his future as national coach.
"This is not the time, I won't discuss my desires until the
qualifying campaign is completed on Wednesday," he said.