Summary

  • Ramsey scores with looping header

  • Bale with curling free-kick & left-foot finish

  • Wales now at the top of Group B

  • Top two automatically qualify from group

  1. Tick tock...published at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    BBC Radio Wales:, external This is your 30-minute warning to kick off between ISRvWAL. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

    BBC Radio WalesImage source, BBC Radio Wales
  2. Postpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Thirty-one minutes until kick off...

  3. Playing with a namesakepublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Greg Ingram: Had myself and another player named Greg Ingram. The manager just called him junior and me senior.

    Michael Blighe: Not much chance for me having the Ben Haim problem, I haven't met anyone outside my own family with my last name!

    Israel have two players in their starting line-up called Tal Ben Haim. Have you ever played in a team who had two players with the same name? Perhaps you had a namesake up front, or in goal?

    You can tweet us on #bbcfootball,, external text in on 81111 or go to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport Google+., external

  4. Euro 2016 - Saturday highlightspublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen celebrates his goal against South KoreaImage source, Getty Images

    Wales' close Group B rivals Belgium and Cyprus (19:45 GMT) play each other in the ol' King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.

    Cyprus are two points behind the Welsh, while Belgium, rather surprisingly, only have five points from three games.

    The Belgians, who can call on the likes of Eden Hazard, Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku and Jan Vertonghen, need to up their game.

    In Group A, 100%ers Czech Republic should cruise past Latvia (17:00 GMT). World Cup semi-finalists Netherlands only have six points from four games - they face Turkey at home at 19:45 GMT. In the early kick off, there are 20 minutes left with Iceland leading Kazakhstan 2-0. The result would move Iceland three points clear at the top of Group A.

    And finally Group H (not Group C), the big clash is in Croatia where the leaders on goal difference face Norway, who are third on nine points - one behind (17:00 GMT).

    Second-placed Italy are in Bulgaria (19:45 GMT).

  5. Postpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    BBC team

    BBC Football producer Phil Wye:, external Haifa, Israel v Wales 5pm ko, @bbc5live commentary team @alibruceball @JohnHartson10 @ianbrownfooty

  6. There's only two Tal Ben Haims...published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Tal Ben HaimImage source, Getty Images

    Sharp-eyed observers will have noticed that Israel have two players called Tal Ben Haim in their starting line-up.

    One - pictured on the left - is a winger who plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv. The other, on the right, is the former Bolton, Chelsea and Manchester City centre-back, and the captain of his country.

    There are previous high-profile instances of international sides containing two players with the same name: North Korea's 2010 World Cup squad had two men called Pak Nam-Chol, while England went to Mexico 1986 with two players called Gary Stevens.

  7. Team newspublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Wales Sport, in Haifa

    Wales manager Chris Coleman names a team which shows two changes from November's goalless draw in Belgium. James Collins replaces injured centre-back James Chester, who has yet to recover fully from a dislocated shoulder.

    Tottenham's Ben Davies also slots in at centre-back as Coleman switches to the 5-3-2 formation which he used at the start of the campaign in Andorra. That means Gareth Bale starts up front alongside Hal Robson-Kanu. Ashley Williams wins his 50th cap.

    Israel boss Eli Guttman makes just one change from the team which beat Bosnia-Hercegovina 3-0 last time out as Orel Dgani replaces Eyal Meshumar at right-back in a 4-3-3 formation.

    Israel XI: Marziano; Dgani, Tal Ben Haim, Tibi, Ben Harush; Yeini, Natcho, Refaelov; Tal Ben Haim II, Zehavi, Dmari.

    Wales XI: Hennessey; Gunter, Williams, Collins, Davies, Taylor; Allen, Ledley, Ramsey; Robson-Kanu, Bale.

  8. Postpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Ashley Williams (centre)Image source, Getty Images

    Williams is in the squad... find out if he has won his 50th cap very soon.

  9. Postpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    BBC Wales Sport Dafydd Pritchard in Haifa

    Israel v Haifa

    "The excitement in Haifa is palpable - and it has been all day.

    "Wales' crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel sold out long ago, but hordes of Israeli fans have been searching desperately for tickets today.

    "A large number of them also gathered outside Wales' team hotel earlier, wearing Real Madrid shirts and waiting eagerly for a glimpse of Gareth Bale.

    "The world's most expensive footballer has been the talk of the town in the build-up to this match. And after a turbulent few weeks with his club, Bale will be aiming to put all that behind him come kick-off."

  10. BBC coveragepublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Remember we have full coverage of Israel v Wales on BBC Radio 5 live - your commentary team in Haifa is Alistair Bruce-Ball, Ian Brown and John Hartson. There is also commentary on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

    Stay with 5 live after the match because we have 606, from 19:00-20:00 GMT, with Jason Mohammed and Chris Waddle.

  11. Wales sporting highspublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Colin Jackson (left)Image source, PA
    Image caption,

    Colin Jackson (left) shows off his World gold next to fellow GB athlete Tony Jarrett

    Where would reaching Euro 2016 rate in Welsh sporting history?

    Better than reaching the 1958 World Cup finals?

    Better than Wales' record win over England to win the 2013 Six Nations?

    Better than any solo try by JPR Williams?

    Surely not as good as Joe Calzaghe's win over Bernard Hopkins in 2008?

    Colin Jackson setting a world record in winning World 110m hurdles gold in 1993?

    And send us your pictures of where you'll be watching today's match.

    You can tweet us on #bbcfootball,, external text in on 81111 or go to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport Google+., external

  12. Walk this Walespublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    FA WalesImage source, FA Wales

    This was only tweeted by FA Wales, external just after 14:00 GMT. Gareth Bale (on the right) leading his team-mates on a stroll around Haifa.

    "Lads. Was it right or left back to the stadium?..."

  13. The story so farpublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    While we pull together the rest of the team news, read Wales' Euro 2016 story so far:

    With the format changing from 16 teams to 24 teams for the 2016 finals, Wales' chances of reaching France were given a huge boost.

    Still with Bosnia-Hercegovina, Belgium and Israel in the group it was never going to be easy to grab one of the two automatic qualifier spots.

    But after four matches, Wales are unbeaten with two wins and two draws - including a draw in Belgium and one at home to Bosnia-Hercegovina.

    Here's the table - makes for good reading Wales fans:

    Group B table as it stands
  14. Breaking team newspublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Early team news - Gareth Bale starts for Wales.

  15. One step closer...published at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015

    Gareth BaleImage source, Getty Images

    Could this be the campaign? Maybe? Possibly? Wales in a major finals?*

    Imagine: Several Y Ddraig Goch flags dancing in the breeze at the Stade de France as Gareth Bale drives down the left before smashing an angled shot past Hugo Lloris as Wales beat the hosts to win Euro 2016...

    Cue calls for a national holiday, a football chants album by Katherine Jenkins and Bale's New Year Knighthood.

    Dare to dream Wales fans?

    First though, Group B leaders Israel in Haifa - a minor obstacle.

    *Yes, Wales did reach the 1958 World Cup finals, but we are certainly not counting the second qualifying stage of the 1976 Euros.