FOCUS ON ISRAEL
MANAGER
Former Austria Under-21s coach Willi Ruttensteiner replaced the popular Andreas Herzog earlier this summer but not to universal acclaim after the likes of former Celtic midfielder Eyal Berkovic and ex-chelsea manager Avram Grant were overlooked. In a move designed to cut costs in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, the 57-year-old – already the Israeli FA’S sporting director – was asked to double up and also take on responsibility for managing the national team. Tonight’s clash with the Scots will be his first game in charge but Ruttensteiner will not have long to impress, having been warned he will be out of a job by Christmas if he does not bring in results. He had two caretaker spells in charge of Austria, the most recent in 2011.
FORM
The shock 2-1 win over Alex Mcleish’s Scotland in October 2018 kicked off a mini run of success for Israel. In the six games that followed they would pick up another four victories with their only defeat coming six weeks later in Glasgow as the Scots got revenge for their Haifa loss to seal Nations League promotion. But since then it is has been pretty much one disappointment after another. A 4-0 hammering by Poland last year was followed by another six Euro 2020 qualifiers in which Israel’s only triumph came against Latvia. After shipping 18 goals in 10 games, they finished second bottom of their section. Victory this week would be a major boost ahead of next month’s return to Hampden for their delayed Euro 2020 play-off.
TACTICS
Herzog mostly utilised a back five during his two-year stint in charge, with Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton often used as a makeshift centre-back in a copy of the ploy used by Parkhead boss Neil Lennon at times. It remains to be seen if Ruttensteiner will shake things up or stick by Herzog’s tried-andtested gameplan but the new man in charge will certainly be looking to stiffen up a defence that has not kept a clean sheet in its last seven games.
PLAYERS
There is certainly a different look about Ruttensteiner ’s squad. Tomer Hemed and ex-celt Beram Kayal were once key men for Israel but with both now without a club having left Brighton this summer, they have been overlooked. Bitton and Parkhead team-mate Hatem Abd Elhamed ensure there are a couple of familiar faces for the Tartan Army, while Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano, below, should continue in goal. Ruttensteiner may opt for new blood after including youngsters Joel Abu Hanna, Ofri Arad, Ilay Elmkies, Eylon Almog and Shon Weissman in his first squad. But it is likely he will rely on the ever potent Eran Zahavi up front. The striker – who is reportedly set to clinch a move from Chinese outfit Guangzhou to Fenerbahce this week – finished second only to Harry Kane and level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 11 goals during Euro 2020 campaign.