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England held by Israel in Tel Aviv

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TEL AVIV, Israel -- England's faltering Euro 2008 qualifying campaign suffered a further setback as they were held 0-0 by Israel in Tel Aviv on Saturday

The result leaves England struggling to establish dominance in a tight Group E and their hopes of occupying one of the top two qualifying places were not helped by nearest rivals Croatia and Russia both winning.

Croatia came from behind to beat Macedonia 2-1 with Darijo Srna and Eduardo da Silva scoring after Goce Sedloski gave Macedonia a 36th minute lead.

Sedloski was later sent off and Macedonia were down to ten men when da Silva scored his 88th minute clincher.

It leaves them with 13 points from five games, two clear of Russia who won 2-0 in Estonia with Alexander Kerzhakov scoring two second half goals.

England trail in third on eight points ahead of Israel on goal difference. Their coach Steve McClaren was in angry mood after his team failed to win for the fifth successive match, the worst run in 26 years.

"I'm disappointed and frustrated, we had more than enough chances to have won that," said McClaren who was booed by a section of the traveling support after the match.

"We have got to have better quality in front of goal, it's as simple as that," he added.

Israel started with a flourish and Toto Tamuz had two good chances, the first a 17-meter low shot in the 27th minute from the left which forced England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to stretch to collect, and the second a header in the 29th which went wide.

England slowly gained control and their early threats came from a speedy Aaron Lennon run in the ninth minute with a shot which went well over the bar.

He did better in the 18th minute as he set up Wayne Rooney for a header which was neatly gathered by Dudu Aouate.

The home keeper also had to be step in smartly as Steven Gerrard played in Frank Lampard who was blocked by Aouate.

The second half followed a similar pattern with England having the bulk of the possession but failing to create clear cut opportunities.

Their best moments came midway through the half as Lampard and striker Andy Johnson might have done better with glancing headers and defender Jamie Carragher hit the crossbar with another headed effort from a corner.

Johnson was replaced by Jermain Defoe who saw a shot blocked by Aouate and twice had the ball in the net from offside positions.

But Israel held out for a draw which leaves them level on eight points with England after five games.


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Johnson reacts to another missed opportunity in Tel Aviv.

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