Israel national football team
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| Israel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Association | Israel Football Association | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coach |  Dror Kashtan (2006-) |
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| Captain | Yossi Benayoun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Most caps | Arik Benado (91) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top scorer | Mordechai Spiegler (32) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home stadium | Ramat Gan Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIFA code | ISR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIFA ranking | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest FIFA ranking | 22 (June 1999) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest FIFA ranking | 71 (September 1993) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elo ranking | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest Elo ranking | 23 (1976) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest Elo ranking | 73 (Feb 1968) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First international Egypt 7 - 1  Palestine(Cairo, Egypt; March 16, 1934)  USA 3 - 1 Israel (New York City, USA; September 26, 1948) |
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Biggest win Israel 9 - 0 Taiwan  (Wellington, New Zealand; March 23, 1988) |
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| Biggest defeat Egypt 7 - 1 Palestine (Cairo, Egypt; March 16, 1934)  Germany 7 - 1 Israel (Kaiserslautern, Germany; February 13, 2002) |
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| World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 1 (First in 1970) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | Round 1, 1970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Israel National Football Team has participated in four different continents: Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania in the Football World Cup qualifiers, before settling in Europe as a member of UEFA. The Israel Football Association (IFA) was founded under the name Palestine Football Association in 1928, 20 years before the establishment of the state of Israel during the Mandate for Palestine. PFA was accepted as a full member of FIFA in 1929. PFA first dealt with local leagues, but later also managed the national team that was created to participate in the World Cup qualifications (participated in 1934 and 1938 as Palestine/Eretz Yisrael national team).
The Israeli side has only appeared in one World Cup (1970).
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[edit] History
[edit] Before Independence
Palestine played its first official game in 1934 in the world cup qualifiers losing 1-7 to Egypt. The team's first goal ever was scored by Avraham Nudelmann. Upon creation of the State of Israel in 1948, IFA became the official association of the new state. The Israel national team's first game as an independent state was on September 26, 1948, against the USA (result: 1-3 to the USA).
[edit] Asian history
In 1964 Israel hosted the Asian Nations Cup and won 2-1 against South Korea. In 1968 Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. In 1970 Israel qualified for their first and only World Cup, but only got two points after draws with Sweden and finalist Italy and a loss to Uruguay. In 1976, Israel went to their second Olympic Games and lost in the quarter-finals again, this time against Brazil. In 1989, Israel made it to the playoffs of WC Italy 1990 from the top of the Oceania group, to play against Colombia who qualified from the South American group, but lost (1-0, 0-0). In 2000, Israel made it to the playoffs of Euro 2000, but was beaten by Denmark.
[edit] European history
In 2006 World Cup qualifying, Israel finished third in European zone Group Four behind France and Switzerland despite being unbeaten in their 10 matches after four wins and six draws, and failed to qualify for the finals. Coach Avraham Grant announced his resignation on 26 October 2005. After the end of his contract he was succeeded by Dror Kashtan. The continued presence of the Israeli Football Association in UEFA was a precedent cited by Australia to justify its transfer from Oceania to the Asian Football Federation.
[edit] World Cup record
- 1930 - Did not enter
- 1934 to 1938 - Did not qualify (as Palestine)
- 1950 to 1966 - Did not qualify
- 1970 - Round 1
- 1974 to 2006 - Did not qualify
[edit] Asian Nations Cup record
- 1956 - Second place
- 1960 - Second place
- 1964 - Champions
- 1968 - Third place
- 1972 onwards - Did not enter, no longer an AFC member
[edit] European Championship record
[edit] Euro 2008 qualification tournament
Following Israel's close failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, Dror Kashtan became national team manager. His first game in charge was a friendly draw away to Slovenia.
| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score | Competition | Israel scorers | Match Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 August 2006 | Arena Petrol, Celje (A) |  Slovenia |
1-1 | F | Yossi Benayoun | |
| 2 September 2006 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn (A) |  Estonia |
0-1 | ECQ | Roberto Colautti | UEFA |
| 6 September 2006 | Stadion de Goffert, Nijmegen, Netherlands (H) |  Andorra |
4-1 | ECQ | Yossi Benayoun, Amit Ben-Shushan, Shimon Gershon, Toto Tamuz | |
| 7 October 2006 | Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow (A) |  Russia |
1-1 | ECQ | Amit Ben-Shushan | |
| 15 November 2006 | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |  Croatia |
3-4 | ECQ | Roberto Colautti (2), Yossi Benayoun | |
| 7 February 2007 | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |  Ukraine |
1-1 | F | Walid Badir | |
| 24 March 2007 | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |  England |
0-0 | ECQ | ||
| 28 March 2007 | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) | Estonia |
4-0 | ECQ | Ben Sahar (2), Roberto Colautti , Idan Tal | |
| 2 June 2007 | (A) |  FYR Macedonia |
ECQ | |||
| 6 June 2007 | (A) | Andorra |
ECQ | |||
| 8 September 2007 | (A) | England |
ECQ | |||
| 17 October 2007 | (A) | Croatia |
ECQ | |||
| 17 November 2007 | (H) | Russia |
ECQ | |||
| 21 November 2007 | (H) | FYR Macedonia |
ECQ |
- Key
- H = Home match
- A = Away match
- F = Friendly
- ECQ = European Championship Qualifier
[edit] Current squad
This is the Israel squad for the Euro 2008 Group E qualifying matches against 
England on 24 March 2007 and 
Estonia on 28 March 2007.
Note: Not all player information is correct.
- Goalkeepers
| Name | Age | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dudu Aouate | 29 |  Deportivo La Coruna |
19 (0) | v Spain, October 10, 1999 |
| Nir Davidovic | 30 | Maccabi Haifa |
41 (0) | N/A |
| Shavit Elimelech | 35 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
39 (0) | v Estonia, January 18, 1999 |
- Defenders
| Name | Age | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yigal Antebi | 32 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
0 (0) | N/A |
| Tal Ben Haim | 24 | Bolton Wanderers |
24 (0) | v Germany, February 13, 2002 |
| Tomer Ben-Yosef | 27 | Beitar Jerusalem |
7 (0) | v Azerbaijan, February 18, 2004 |
| Arik Benado | 33 | Beitar Jerusalem |
90 (-) | unknown |
| Dani Bondarv | 29 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
0 (0) | N/A |
| Shimon Gershon | 29 | Beitar Jerusalem |
36 (2) | unknown |
| Yuval Schpungin | 19 | Maccabi Tel Aviv |
1 (0) | v Ukraine, March 7, 2007 |
| Yoav Ziv | 26 | Beitar Jerusalem |
3 (0) | v Slovenia, August 15, 2006 |
- Midfielders
| Name | Age | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gal Alberman | 23 | Beitar Jerusalem |
4 (0) | v Slovenia, August 15, 2006 |
| Walid Badir | 33 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
61 (11) | v Belarus, August 5, 1997 |
| Yossi Benayoun | 26 | West Ham United |
49 (11) | v Portugal, November 18, 1998 |
| Idan Tal | 31 | Bolton Wanderers |
58 (6) | v Turkey, February 18, 1998 |
| Salim Tuama | 27 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
5 (0) | v Ukraine, August 15, 2005 |
- Strikers
| Name | Age | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toto Tamuz | 19 | Beitar Jerusalem |
3 (1) | v Andorra, September 6, 2006 |
| Pini Balili | 27 |  Sivasspor |
25 (7) | unknown |
| Elyaniv Barda | 25 | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
0 (0) | N/A |
| Amit Ben-Shushan | 21 | Beitar Jerusalem |
3 (2) | unknown |
| Roberto Colautti | 24 | Maccabi Haifa |
5 (4) | v Estonia, September 2, 2006 |
| Omer Golan | 24 | Maccabi Petach Tikva |
14 (1) | v Moldova, April 28, 2004 |
| Yaniv Katan | 26 | Maccabi Haifa (on loan from West Ham United) |
26 (5) | v Hungary, June 3, 2000 |
| Ben Sahar | 17 | Chelsea FC |
3 (2) | v Ukraine, February 7, 2007 |
[edit] Player history
[edit] Notable and former players
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[edit] Most capped players
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[edit] Top scorers
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[edit] Player records
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