Israel ready for European qualifiers
FOOTBALL FOUR British-based players have been selected in Israel’s 23-man squad ahead of next week’s Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Celtic’s defensive midfielder Nir Bitton has been recalled after being sidelined for 11 months with a knee injury. Hibernian goalkeeper Ofer Marciano also returns, as well as Beram Kayal of Brighton and Tomer Hemed of QPR.
Israel manager Andi Herzog is confident the team can qualify for the finals for the first time.
Ahead of matches against Slovenia and Austria next week, Herzog said: “We are ranked 92 by Fifa at the moment and have talented young players that in the long-term can put Israel in the top 30.
“But as a manager I need immediate success and we have a good opportunity to qualify for Euro 2020.”
Israel were drawn in Group G as the third seeds, behind Poland and Austria and ahead of Slovenia, Macedonia and Latvia. With the top two teams qualifying, and having avoided all the biggest European powers, Israel will never have a better chance of reaching the finals.
Herzog has already put new fight into the team, which narrowly missed out on winning its Nations League group, with home victories over Albania and Scotland, before losing 3-2 to Scotland in Glasgow.
Having been critical of Israel’s attacking players for neglecting defensive duties, Herzog has omitted Ligat
Ha’Al’s top-scorer Eliran Atar. Marciano (Hibernian), Yoav Jerafi (Ashdod)
Defenders: Eli Dasa, Sheran Yeini (both Maccabi Tel Aviv), Taleb Tawatha (Eintracht Frankfurt), Loai Taha, Hatem Abd Elhamed (both Hapoel Beer Sheva), Aid Habshi (Maccabi Haifa), Omri Ben Harush (Lokeren) Midfielders: Bibras Nathko (captain) (Olympiacos), Beram Kayal (Brighton),
Nir Bitton (Celtic), Almog Cohen (Ingolstadt), Yonatan Cohen, Dor Micah, Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz (all Maccabi Tel Aviv), Manor Solomon (Shakhtar Donetsk) Forwards: Tomer Hemed (QPR), Eran Zahavi, Dia Saba (both Guangzhou), Moanes Dabour (RB Salzburg)