Send your messages of thanks to Israel

Omer Golan, Tal Ben Haim, Elyaniv Barda and the rest of the Israel team: we salute you. Last week we asked you to play not just for your pride, but for our future: we pleaded with you to forget your campaign was over and remember that our chances of going to Euro 2008 were held together by the slenderest thread. In our darkest hour, we called on friendships forged on the training grounds at Cobham and Melwood, burnished by John Terry’s text messages and sealed by a media maelstrom.

In short, we asked much of Israel – and they delivered. Even when the tide turned against them on Saturday night, when it looked like Russia had found a second wind, they dug deep and delivered.

So if last week we urged readers to wish Israel luck against Guus Hiddink’s men, this week we urge fans to offer their appreciation: to say thanks for the hard work and commitment, to praise the goals and the courage – but most importantly, to thank the players for their integrity and sportsmanship.

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Comments

[Heather in Toronto]

Dear Israel FC,

You have my undying gratitude – well done lads!!!

[frank alan mills]

thanks lads you all played like demons i alsohad israel in an accumulator and won 400quid for my fiver result