Israel ease home after flying start

Israel kept their 100 per cent record under coach Avraham Grant intact with a 5-0 friendly international victory in Luxembourg ahead of both nations EURO 2004™ campaigns.

Berkovic returns
Grant chose to stick with the striking partnership of Kfir Udi and Omri Afek after the duo earned Israel a 4-2 victory against Lithuania two weeks ago, with Manchester City FC's Eyal Berkovic returning to the side for the first time since October 2001 to win his 74th cap.

Early goal
Just 23 seconds into the match Israel took the lead. Berkovic's precise through-ball was just right for Udi who timed his run perfectly to beat Luxembourg's offside trap and goalkeeper Stéphane Gillet. Afek, also Udi's partner at Hapoel Tel-Aviv, then created the second goal in the 21st minute, teeing up Walid Badier whose first-time shot deflected into the goal off Udi's heel.

Udi strikes again
Luxembourg did create an opening in the 33rd minute, when they forced Israeli goalkeeper Liran Strauber - standing in for Dudu Awat - to make a save. Michael Zandberg replaced the tireless Berkovic at half-time and also looked impressive, allowing Idan Tal, who is set to join Spanish side Rayo Vallecano from Everton FC, to move into the middle. And, on 67 minutes, Tal found Udi unmarked in the area and the forward made no mistake with his header.

Keisi volley
Adoram Keisi scored the fourth goal eleven minutes from the end with a fine volley after Gillet could only parry a cross from substitute Ilan Bachar. It was two more of the Israeli replacements who combined for their fifth with six minutes left - Eli Biton, who had come on for his debut less than 60 second earlier, unselfishly setting up Yossi Benayoun for a simple tap-in.

Malta opener
Israel begin their bid to reach the EURO 2004™ finals in Portugal on 12 October in Malta, before facing Cyprus, reigning champions France and Slovenia, while Luxembourg follow their opener the say day in Denmark with matches against Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Norway.