so i lied...

So what. So Henry never made it onto the pitch during last night's game against Israel. Well, technically he did because at one point he did go for a trot round the pitch and did look like he was going to come on, but in the end, he just sat on the bench. Looking pretty gormless, it has to be said. In the end, Arsenal's sole representative on the pitch was Paddy Vieira, and what a shite performance, pretty much his average Arsenal game...

The game itself was OK. I think this was the first time I ever got into watching the Israel national side and was willing them on, especially those last few minutes when they really deserved to win the game. Even came away with a bitter taste in my mouth, because this was a missed opportunity. It's all too tight at the top of their group now, and with away games at Ireland and Switzerland to come, you have to say that Israel's chances look slim. Still, their two games this week has given the side some fresh hope and the whole nation is getting hyper; as an example, the channel that showed the two games has broken all its previous ratings records.

And summer time officially kicks in here tonight, though the last couple of days were obviously unaware that they were supposed to be drenching us in rain. That means the beaches will be officially opened soon, but the news of a five meter shark (5 feckin' meters!) being found off the coast of Ashdod (a few miles down the road from Tel Aviv) is hardly tempting me back in the water to resurrect my surfing career...