Re: Israel: it used to play in Asia in the beginning (back the Africa and Asia), but that got silly with many of the muslim nations boycotting to play them. Due to this and financial troubles of other federations, in 1958 Israel would have even qualified for the World Cup without playing a single game, which would have been against the rules apparently.
The solution was to set up a qualifier against a European dropout, Wales, which Wales won, giving them their only Finals appearance to date. Since they progressed, in a way you could say that Wales was the first Asian and the first African nation to ever reach the quarter finals of a World Cup.
Later Israel got shifted to - of all places - Oceania, where thesy qualified once, but later requested a move to UEFA for logistical and sporting reasons, which was then granted. |
England's 1990 WC Squad
English Football Clubs
150 Most Capped England Players
