Rooney spat with McClaren

England coach Steve McClaren and Wayne Rooney were reportedly involved in a dressing-room row after the goalless draw against Israel.

The forward is said to have walked out of the dressing room after being singled out for criticism by McClaren, whose team have now failed to score in four of their last five matches. Rooney has failed to score a competitive goal for England since Euro 2004 and McClaren is reported to have told the 21-year-old that he has not played well for his country for three years.

Rooney reportedly responded by throwing his boots and kit at the wall in frustration and it is reported the argument was so loud it could be heard in the Israel dressing room next door. The former Everton forward endured a frustrating evening, failing to really get into the game and being shown a yellow card after a spat with Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim.
For England 0-0 Israel full report, click here.

Euro2008 qualifying matches, Israel 0-0 England

England find no way past Israel

England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign stuttered again with a dismal stalemate against Israel in Tel Aviv.

Tight tussle
England had probably the better chances, including Jamie Carragher's header on to the crossbar, but Israel were resolute in defence and deserving of a point that will have pleased more than anyone the group's top two teams, Croatia and Russia, who are now respectively five and three points clear of this pair.

Tamuz effort
His options limited by injuries, visiting manager Steve McClaren deployed Phil Neville and Carragher as full-backs and Wayne Rooney and Andy Johnson up front, while his opposite number Dror Kashtan used 18-year-old Toto Tamuz in attack. The teenager had an immediate opportunity yet was unable to force the ball in after pouncing on a Rio Ferdinand backpass.

Lampard denied
The away side had little of the action in the early stages but in the 22nd minute Johnson and Steven Gerrard combined to set up Frank Lampard, whose shot was smothered by the alert Dudu Awat. Soon after, Tamuz forced England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to save, and although the visitors pushed hard towards the end of the half, Awat was not troubled.

Carragher close
It was a similar story as the second period began, England moving forward but incapable of breaking down the Israel rearguard. Carragher sent a looping header on to the crossbar, though Awat looked to have it covered, and while 17-year-old Ben Sahar was brought on for his competitive Israel debut, most of the excitement was at the other end.

Awat saves
Rooney had an effort blocked by Tal Ben Haim and the assured Awat then stopped a Lampard volley. With the clock ticking down, Jermain Defoe was brought on to add impetus to the England front line, and with seven minutes left, Awat did well to smother the substitute's attempt from close range as his team defended deeply to secure a point.

Israel: Aouate, Ben Haim, Gershon, Ziv, Benado, Spungin, Badir, Benayoun, Ben Shushan (Alberman 87), Tamuz (Barda 75), Balili (Sahar 69).
Subs Not Used: Davidovitch, Golan, Toama, Antebi.

Booked: Benado, Ben Haim.

England: Robinson, Neville (Richards 72), Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher, Gerrard, Lampard, Hargreaves, Lennon (Downing 83), Rooney, Johnson (Defoe 80).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Barry, Carrick, Dyer.

Booked: Carragher, Rooney.

Euro2008 qualifying matches, Israel 0-0 England highlights:

Fever rising for Israel-England match

England arrived in Israel late Thursday for a match under-fire coach Steve McClaren dare not lose.

Defeat on Saturday could seriously endanger England's chances of qualifying for the European Championship finals next year.

And just eight months into the job, McClaren's fate could be prematurely decided if his winless streak extends to five matches at Ramat Gan Stadium.

The pressure is getting to his underachieving squad.

"It hurts an awful lot when you don't get the right results," midfielder Steven Gerrard said.

"We are in the results business and we will get judged on results. We have been criticized and rightly so. It is time to take it on the chin, get on with it and start performing."

After four games in Group E, England is three points behind leader Croatia, one point behind Russia and level with Israel and Macedonia. Only two teams qualify automatically.

The campaign started emphatically with two wins in September - a 5-0 demolition of lowly Andorra and an assured 1-0 in Macedonia.

But the bubble burst for McClaren in October's qualifiers with an uninspiring goalless draw with Macedonia, and a 2-0 defeat in Croatia for which blundering goalkeeper Paul Robinson was vilified.

Preparations for Saturdays qualifier have been hampered by the involvement of 14 players in demanding FA Cup replays on Monday.

But failure against the emerging Israelis is not an option.

"I am trying not to think about missing the European Championship - I am thinking about qualification," said Gerrard, who received the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to soccer from Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday.

"We do need to start winning quickly because our results over the past few games have not been good enough."

Injuries and a suspension have deprived McClaren of his favored fullbacks - Gary Neville, Wayne Bridge, Micah Richards and Ashley Cole.

Neville's brother Phil and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher look likely to fill the void.

The injury crisis extends to the forward line.

McClaren has been forced to draft in David Nugent of Championship side Preston with Darren Bent and Peter Crouch ruled out.

He is likely to field Wayne Rooney and either Everton's Andy Johnson or Tottenham's Jermain Defoe in attack.

In midfield, though, McClaren has powerful options with Owen Hargreaves back from a broken leg and set to combine in the center with Frank Lampard. Aaron Lennon and Gerrard are the preferred options on the flanks.

Israel recognizes these threats while quietly confident of causing an upset, helped by its intimidating fans.

"There is no doubt that England is a stronger team than Israel but I hope and believe that if things come together then we will be able to win," coach Dror Kashtan said ahead of the first competitive meeting between the sides.

The last major tournament England failed to reach was the 1994 World Cup, which led to the axing of Graham Taylor.

Like McClaren - formerly with Middlesbrough - Taylor took charge of the national side after a largely undistinguished record with Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Israel captain Yossi Benayoun came through Thursday's training without any problems. The West Ham midfielder had been out of action for four weeks with a groin injury.

Since arriving in Israel on Sunday, Benayoun had completed three practices, and the playmaker will start.

"There is no doubt that England is a stronger team than Israel but I hope and believe that if things come together then we will be able to win," Israel coach Dror Kashtan said.