Israel were basically the team that scuppered Ireland's chances of qualification for the 2006 World Cup. We had two draws with them, both of which should have been Irish wins.

The days of minnows you can easily beat have gone in most cases, and Israel definitely don't fall into that category any longer (if they ever did). A draw away from home is not to be sneered at - I didn't see the game so I don't know what the overall performance was like.

Ireland won today, but you wouldn't think so to talk to a lot of Irish soccer fans. Granted the Irish performance was far from satifactory.