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:

Champions League, Valencia 0-0 Inter Milan

Valencia draw with Inter sees them into last eight

Valencia progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw here Tuesday with Inter Milan saw them home 2-2 on aggregate.

Valencia, which stretched their unbeaten European home record to nine matches, had its two away goals from the first leg draw at the San Siro to thank for ensuring progression into the last eight of European football and premier competition.

The tie was marred after the final whistle when a mass brawl broke out between rival players, with members of each of the benches joining the melee which appeared to be triggered by blows exchanged by Valencia's Carlos Marchena and Nicolas Burdisso of Inter Milan. Security officers were forced to intervene to restore order.

Despite the scoreline the game itself at the Stadio Mestalla was by no means a dull affair despite Inter missing hamstrung Brazilian striker Adriano and dynamic French midfielder Patrick Vieira. The opening 10 minutes were end-to-end, with both sides keen to attack, and indicative of a pulsating match throughout.

Zlatan Ibrahmovic tested Santiago Canizares in the eighth minute, but the goalkeeper made a comfortable save from Zlatan's 25-yard strike. A minute later, Valencia striker David Villa fumbled a shot from a delicate David Silva through ball, and Fernando Morientes and follow-up was parried away by the covering Marco Materazzi.

Julio Cesar was forced into action in the Inter goal in the 12th minute, clearing a low diagonal 20-yard shot by Baraja. Inter Milan, with fiery Swede Ibrahmovic partnered up front by Argentinian veteran Hernan Crespo, came closest to an opener with a quarter of an hour to play in the cracking first-half.

Maicon whipped cross was headed into the middle of the area by Stankovic at the back post but Raul Albiol hooked clear to deny Crespo a near-range attempt.

On the stroke of half-time, Villa was denied a scoring chance from a Morientes cross by a neat backheeled clearance by Colombian defender Ivan Cordoba.

Valencia's Villa saw a header deflected away by Olivier Dacourt at the start of the second period, and Cesar was also in action to save an Emiliano Moretti header.

Inter Milan failed, however, to pull back any goals to leave Valencia booking their ticket into the last eight.

Valencia: Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Albiol, Moretti, Angulo (Joaquin 77), Baraja (Hugo Viana 36), Marchena, Silva, Morientes (Vicente 67), Villa.
Subs Not Used: Butelle, Del Horno, Navarro, Curro Torres.

Booked: Canizares, Angulo.

Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Cordoba, Materazzi, Maxwell (Grosso 75), Zanetti, Burdisso, Dacourt (Figo 64), Stankovic, Crespo (Cruz 58), Ibrahimovic.
Subs Not Used: Toldo, Solari, Samuel, Gonzalez.

Booked: Ibrahimovic, Materazzi, Cordoba, Maicon.

Valencia and Inter Milan fight Video: