Benayoun injury dampens England hopes - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Benayoun injury dampens England hopes

Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun could miss Israel's clash with Russia next week - the vital match which would all but seal England's fate of not reaching the Euro 2008 finals.

The on-form Israel captain picked up a groin injury in the Reds' 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday at Anfield, according to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

He said: "Yossi has picked up an injury and it is very, very doubtful that he will join up with his country."

Benayoun confirmed he will have a scan on Sunday and has cancelled the flight to join up with his international teammates.

Should Russia overcome Israel 24 hours after Steve McClaren's side tackle Austria in a Vienna friendly on November 16, England will almost certainly miss out on a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup.

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