Kayal is ready to reach for the stars
BERAM KAYAL insists Israel are set to turn the UEFA Nations League section on its head by beating Albania in Be’er Sheva tonight.
A stand-out in the Israelis’ 2-1 victory over Scotland on Thursday, the former Celtic midfielder believes the 2-1 win — and the thoroughly dominant performance behind it — will change perceptions of his national team among a public that stayed away from the game in Haifa, leaving the Sammy Ofer Stadium barely a third full.
Israel had only beaten Liechtenstein in their previous 10 matches and got off to a rotten start under new coach Andreas Herzog, losing the first game of Group C1 to the Albanians in Elbasan before suffering a 3-0 loss to Northern Ireland in a Belfast friendly.
Yet on Thursday it all clicked. Kayal, who has been back in the Brighton first team in recent weeks, dovetailed perfectly with goalscorer Dor Peretz in the middle of the park and helped orchestrate a result that leaves the three-team mini section evenly balanced at the halfway stage with all teams having played twice and won once.
‘I was just happy to win,’ said the 30-yearold on Thursday. ‘It has been a tough time for us. We have not won for a long time but we have a new manager and new ideas, so I am happy to get the first three points for him.
‘We now have an important game with Albania and we need to do it again. Hopefully the belief of the fans is coming back and everything is possible.
‘We needed these three points. After losing against Albania that result is massive for us. We go to Glasgow in the last game but first we must play Albania again.
‘It is hard to speak about trying to win the group. We take it game by game. We have a new idea, a new manager and a new sporting director which is good for us and Israeli football.’ Kayal was announced as the scorer of the winning goal when in fact it was his former Parkhead team-mate Kieran Tierney who delivered the decisive touch to his right-wing cross.
The young defender looks ill at ease as a leftsided central defender in McLeish’s favoured 3-5-2 formation and compounded a miserable night by lashing at Kayal’s ball and sending it beyond goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
‘Normally in that position you are trying to get the ball in with pace,’ said Kayal. ‘I saw the striker and aimed for him but my cross was nothing special. I am happy but I don’t care whose goal it was.
‘Kieran was unlucky. He is a good talent and we shook hands.
‘I still follow Celtic and watch the games, so I know how much he has been pushing forward. He will be fine.’