Israel grab valuable away point

It might just be getting to the stage where the bookies will start refusing to take bets on draws between the main contenders in World Cup qualifying Group Four. It was 1-1 between Switzerland and Israel in Basle on Saturday evening, meaning that all nine games between the top four teams in the Republic of Ireland's group have ended in draws.

The result was enough to lift Switzerland above Ireland to the top of the group, on goal difference - they were joined on 13 points by France later in the evening - but having taken the lead as early as the fifth minute through Alex Frei, the Swiss, who finish their campaign with games against Cyprus (away), France (home) and Ireland (away), could only view the result as an opportunity lost. Their body language at full-time confirmed as much.

"We now must take six points from our last three games," said a disappointed Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn, "so yes, it will be very difficult. But it will be difficult for everyone in this group - and Israel are not out of it either, if they can finish on 18 points even they can qualify."

"I still believe it's possible for us to at least get second place," said Israel's Yossi Benayoun, "of course, we have to beat the Faroes twice and then see what happens in the other games - but at least everything is still possible."

"We will do our best against the Faroe Islands, but I don't want to speculate on what will happen now," said Israeli coach Avraham Grant. He did, though, tip France to win the group, in light of the return of Zinedine Zidane, leaving Israel, Switzerland and Ireland to fight it out for second place.

Grant paid tribute to his team's resilience and spirit after they came from behind for the fifth time in eight group matches when Frei capped a bright start by the home team with his 21st international goal. The Rennes striker proved more alert than the Israeli defenders around him when Ariel Banado deflected Tranquillo Barnetta's left wing cross on to the right post, Frei firing home the rebound with goalkeeper Nir Davidovich stranded.

Within 15 minutes, however, Israel were level, left back Adoram Keisi's header from Idan Tal's free-kick going in off the inside of Pascal Zuberbuehler's right post. Davidovich prevented the Swiss from regaining the lead just two minutes later when he saved Hakan Yakin's free-kick and he denied Frei soon after the break when he blocked his effort from Yakin's corner.

The Swiss, for whom Yakin and captain Johann Vogel were largely out of sorts, had the better of the second half, which was interrupted by four demonstrators running on to the pitch with banners protesting against Israel's treatment of Palestinians, but lacked the invention to find a way through an often packed Israeli defence.

They came closest to getting the winner four minutes from time when a Frei shot was deflected on to the crossbar by Tal Ben Haim, but Israel held on for their sixth draw in eight qualifying games.

"I think the people of Israel can be proud of our performance. We played in one of the most difficult stadiums in Europe and succeeded against all odds," said Grant, "we will wait now to see what happens."

The mood in the Swiss camp was significantly less buoyant. "The disappointment is deep," said Barnetta, "we just don't yet know how costly this result will be."

Safe to say the Swiss and Israelis will be taking more than a passing interest in events at Lansdowne Road.