Decision comes after scan reveals Israeli captain sustained a muscle tear in the groin.
By ALLON SINAIbenayoun 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Yossi Benayoun will miss Israel's Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia on Saturday after a scan revealed on Sunday that he's sustained a muscle tear in the groin.
The Israel captain, who is also out of the national team's final European Championship qualifier against Macedonia next Wednesday, was injured during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday and is expected to miss the next three weeks.
The news comes as a major blow to Israel fans, but especially to England supporters. If Israel loses to Russia on Saturday and the Russians defeat Andorra four days later, England will miss out on a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup.
"Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch have been driving me crazy in the last few weeks and were disappointed to hear I would miss the match," Benayoun told Sport 5. "My health is more important than England's needs and I must rest and take care of myself."
