Enhanced security at B-pool

The national team of Israel, which currently playing in the European Champsionships B-Pool in Germany, is the subject of additional security precautions, the tournament's official web site explains:

04.08.2004 - (MR/ML) "The game is simply symbolic", explained Superintendent Thomas Aumüller the extended safety precautions at the game of the German national team versus the Israeli team. "The political events, the terror threat, causes us to tighten measures" so the officer-in-charge of the police in Fuerth.

All games of the Israeli team take place in the baseball stadium in Fuerth since it can be guarded better. Thus at the game on Tuesday many police officers were among the crowd - and looking more closely, one noticed the agents of the Israeli secret service Mossad.

"So far the games proceeded without any incidents", said Aumüller contently. Also the fans in Regensburg could see, that the police really gives everything to secure the Israeli team since at the opening game a part of the stands was reserved and separated for the players from Israel.

On the field, there were wins on Wednesday for Serbia and Montenegro (16-9 over Finland), Germany (23-0 over Slovenia), and Switzerland (16-3 over Hungary.

With just today's games left in the group stage, the hosts are the dominant team in the tournament, leading Group A with a 3-0 record, including two games won by more than 20 runs. Newcomers Israel have been the big surprise, winning two games before encountering Germany -- good enough for second place. Ireland and Serbia and Montenegro are undefeated atop Group B. That will change this afternoon when the two teams meet in the first game at Fuerth. The other significant contest is the battle for second place in Group A between Israel and Slovenia. Elsewhere, Finland and Austria will battle for third place in Group B, and Germany should have no problems with winless Hungary.