Soccer / Euro 2008 Qualification / Stadium during Saturday's match is liable to look like Little Russia

Saturday's qualifier between Israel and Russia is liable to be the first match in this country where the home team will feel hostility from the crowd of 20,000. While the game is drawing a lot of interest, the majority of the interested, many of them non-residents, seem to be Russia supporters. Israel, meanwhile, seems to be a sideshow as long as England is ahead of it in the Group E standings.

Both Russian and English reporters attended yesterday's practice by the national team, interviewing many of the players and following every lead about the boys from the local press. Players like Eyal Meshumar and Avi Strool never garnered so much attention from the international press.

Journalists from both countries are on edge about the expected level of play by the Israel national squad. The Russians are afraid the Israeli players will see the game as a ticket for getting into the English Premier League and play the game of their lives. The national team's midfielder, Gal Alberman, summed up his view by saying, "We'll do everything to win - no other considerations interest us."

Beyond the media madness, it seems even a personal visit by David Beckham and the Queen of England couldn't motivate the national team to awake from its hibernation.

Practice yesterday was slow and tiresome. Newcomer Maor Buzaglo was the one shining light, playing a level above the rest. He gave coach Dror Kashtan food for thought, whether to start someone who joined the squad merely to plug a hole. But, Kashtan being Kashtan, the coach won't reward him for one good practice, and it's a pretty good bet Buzaglo will start out Saturday's game on the bench.