Bit of Luck For England (Not for long!)

England will take anything at this stage. And the luck they've got is that FIFA have declared two of Israel's strikers ineliglble to play for the national team as they're not classed as full citizens.

And Israel's top scorer Roberto Colautti is one of those players - phew!

FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren has stated:

"A number of players were able to play for a country as long as they lived there, but their citizenship ended if they moved away from that country ... This new ruling, in effect, protects the players.

"If a good young player was to leave a small club in one country for a big club in another country and lost his right of citizenship, he would also jeopardize his international career.

"All any country has to do is grant that player full unconditional citizenship and he is eligible to play for that country whether he lives there or not."

IFA Chairman Avi Luzon wants the pair to be granted full citizenship immediately and will speak personally to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"The new regulations deal a serious blow to the national team," Luzon said.

"It is clear to all just how big a contribution Tamuz and Colautti have made to the team. We will do everything we can to ensure they can play for Israel."

The government, however, claim that they will not make special allowances for the FA.

"The laws of the State of Israel apply to everyone and they will not be changed because of a ruling by FIFA," a spokeswoman for the Israeli Interior Ministry told the newspaper Haaretz.

The Israeli FA have reportedly complained that the English FA put pressure on FIFA to exclude these players - however the FA has denied this claim.

Now the two players have been given passports - interesting!