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Israel national football team

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Israel
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) הכחולים-לבנים (The Blues and Whites)
Association Israel Football Association (IFA)
Confederation UEFA (Europe) (1991–present)
OFC (Oceania) (1974–91)
AFC (Asia) (1954–74)
Head coach Eli Guttman
Captain Yossi Benayoun
Most caps Arik Benado (94)
Top scorer Mordechai Spiegler (33)
Home stadium Ramat Gan Stadium
FIFA code ISR
FIFA ranking 59
Highest FIFA ranking 15 (November 2008)
Lowest FIFA ranking 82 (July 2012, August 2012, October 2012)
Elo ranking 49
Highest Elo ranking 15 (1976)
Lowest Elo ranking 80 (February 1968)
First colours
Second colours
First international
Eretz Israel:
 Egypt 7–1 Eretz Israel Mandatory Palestine
(Cairo, Egypt; 16 March 1934)
Israel:
United States USA Olympic Team 3–1 Israel Israel
(New York, United States; 26 September 1948)
Biggest win
Israel Israel 9–0 Chinese Taipei 
(Wellington, New Zealand; 23 March 1988)
Biggest defeat
 Egypt 7–1 Eretz Israel Mandatory Palestine
(Cairo, Egypt; 16 March 1934)
 Germany 7–1 Israel Israel
(Kaiserslautern, Germany; 12 February 2002)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 1970)
Best result Round 1, 1970
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances 4 (First in 1956)
Best result Winners, 1964

The Israel national football team (Hebrew: נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל‎, Nivḥeret Yisra'el BeKaduregel ; Arabic: منتخب إسرائيل لكرة القدم‎) is the national football team of Israel, governed by the Israel Football Association (IFA).

Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Israel National Team, during the British Mandate. Israel has competed in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in three different confederations, competing in the Asian Football Confederation and the Oceania Football Confederation before settling in Europe as a member of the Union of European Football Associations in 1994.

The Israeli side qualified for their only FIFA World Cup to date in 1970. Israel also hosted and won the AFC Asian Cup in 1964, and was finalist in 1956 and 1960.

Contents

History

Main article: History of the Israel national football team

Football has a long and rich tradition in Israel. The game was originally introduced during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The Palestine FA was formed in 1928, and joined FIFA in the same year, but at the time the association was made up of Arab clubs, Jewish clubs. and clubs representing British policemen and soldiers serving in the region during the British Mandate rule that spanned the period between World War One and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The Palestine national team made its debut against Egypt in 1934 FIFA World Cup qualification, losing 1–7 in Cairo. The team played five international matches, including a friendly match against Lebanon, until the British Mandate for Palestine was dissolved.

Upon the creation of the State of Israel in May 1948, the IFA became the official association of the new state. The Israel national team's first match as an independent nation was on 26 September 1948, against the USA Olympic Team. The game was won by the USA 1–3, and in the 20th minute of the game Shmuel Ben-Dror scored the first goal after the creation of the State of Israel.

Asian Football Confederation membership

Main article: Politics and sports#Association football
Nahum Stelmach (on left); 1959

Israel competed in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) between 1954 and 1974. Due to the Arab–Israeli conflict, several Muslim states refused to compete against Israel. The political situation culminated in Israel winning the 1958 World Cup qualifying stage for Asia and Africa without playing a single game, forcing FIFA to schedule a playoff between Israel and Wales to ensure the team did not qualify without playing at least one game (which Wales won).

Israel hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup. In 1968, Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria in the quarterfinals.

In 1969, Israel qualified for its first and only FIFA World Cup, via Asia/Oceania, and earned two points after draws with Sweden and finalist Italy, and a loss to Uruguay.

In 1976, Israel went to its second Olympic Games and lost in the quarterfinals again, this time against Brazil. In 1972 and 1977, it attempted World Cup qualification as part of Asia, which both times ended in failure.

Years in exile

In 1974, Israel was expelled from the AFC. During the 1980s, it played the majority of its matches against European teams, and competed in the European stage of qualification for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. For the next two tournaments, it entered Oceana's qualification stage. In 1989, Israel made it to the CONMEBOL-OFC playoffs for the 1990 World Cup to play against Colombia, which qualified from the South American group, but lost (1–0, 0–0).

European Football Confederation membership

In 1991, Israeli clubs began participating in European club competitions, and Israel returned to the European leg of World Cup qualifying in 1992. In 1994, Israel received full UEFA membership, 20 years after it had left Asia. Within Europe, Israel has been a relatively minor nation, though with some successes, notably winning 3–2 in Paris against France in 1993, and 5–0 against Austria in 1999. That year, Israel made it to the playoffs of UEFA Euro 2000, but was beaten by Denmark.

Yossi Benayoun, 2009

Israel came close to advancing to the playoff stage in their 2006 World Cup qualifying group, finishing third, behind France, and tied on points with Switzerland, which also remained unbeaten in 10 matches after 4 wins and 6 draws. The Swiss had a better goal difference, though, and advanced to the qualification play-off. Coach Avram Grant announced his resignation on 26 October 2005. After the end of his contract, he was succeeded by Dror Kashtan.

In UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, Israel finished fourth in Group E, behind Croatia, Russia, and England, respectively. The 4–3 home loss to Croatia was the first loss after 13 consecutive official games and 9 home games without a loss.

In 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, Israel again came in fourth, behind Switzerland, Greece, and Latvia. For the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Kashtan was replaced as coach by Frenchman Luis Fernández, but to no avail, as Israel finished a distant third behind Greece and Croatia.

The continued presence of the Israeli Football Association in UEFA was a precedent cited by Australia to justify its transfer from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation.

Stadium

Main article: Ramat Gan Stadium
Ramat Gan Stadium

The Israel national football team's home stadium is the national stadium in Ramat Gan. The stadium seats 41,583 and is the only stadium in Israel which is in a world-class standard. The stadium is mixed-use, fit for athletic competitions alongside its more popular usage as a football stadium when it hosts Israel international football matches and the UEFA Champions League games of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in the 2004–05 and 2009–10 seasons, respectively.

Competition history

Main article: Israel at the FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did Not Enter – – – – – –
Italy 1934 Did Not Qualify
(as Eretz Israel Team)		 2 0 0 2 2 11
France 1938 2 0 0 2 1 4
Brazil 1950 Did Not Qualify 2 0 0 2 2 11
Switzerland 1954 4 0 0 4 0 5
Sweden 1958 2 0 0 2 0 4
Chile 1962 6 3 1 2 13 14
England 1966 4 0 0 4 1 12
Mexico 1970 Group Stage 12th 3 0 2 1 1 3 4 3 1 0 8 1
West Germany 1974 Did Not Qualify 6 4 1 1 12 2
Argentina 1978 4 2 1 1 5 3
Spain 1982 8 1 3 4 6 10
Mexico 1986 6 3 1 2 17 6
Italy 1990 6 1 4 1 5 5
United States 1994 10 1 3 6 10 27
France 1998 8 4 1 3 9 7
South Korea Japan 2002 8 3 3 2 11 7
Germany 2006 10 4 6 0 15 10
South Africa 2010 10 4 4 2 20 10
Brazil 2014 To Be Determined
Russia 2018
Qatar 2022
Total Group Stage 1/19 3 0 2 1 1 3 102 33 29 40 137 149

Olympic record

Olympics Record
Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA
Finland 1952 Did Not Qualify
Australia 1956
Italy 1960
Japan 1964
Mexico 1968 Quarter-finals – 4 2 0 2 9 7
Germany 1972 Did Not Qualify
Canada 1976 Quarter-finals – 4 0 3 1 4 7
Soviet Union 1980 Withdrew
United States 1984 Did Not Qualify
South Korea 1988
Total Quarter-finals 2/10 8 2 3 3 13 14

Since the 1992 Summer Olympics, the football competition is played as an Under-23 competition

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian Cup record
Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
Hong Kong 1956 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 6 5
South Korea 1960 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 6 4
Israel 1964 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 5 1
Iran 1968 Third Place 3rd 4 2 0 2 11 5
Thailand 1972 Withdrew
Total Champions 4/15 13 9 0 4 28 15

Israel did not compete in a regional competition between the years 1968 and 1994, although in 1972 they were scheduled to compete in the AFC Asian Cup

UEFA European Championship record

UEFA European Championship record
Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
England 1996 Did Not Qualify
Belgium Netherlands 2000
Portugal 2004
Austria Switzerland 2008
Poland Ukraine 2012
France 2016 To Be Determined

2014 FIFA World Cup

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F

Main article: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group F
Team
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Russia 4 4 0 0 8 0 +8 12
 Israel 6 3 2 1 15 8 +7 11
 Portugal 6 3 2 1 11 6 +5 11
 Northern Ireland 5 0 3 2 3 7 −4 3
 Azerbaijan 6 0 3 3 2 8 −6 3
 Luxembourg 5 0 2 3 2 12 −10 2
  Azerbaijan Israel Luxembourg Northern Ireland Portugal Russia
Azerbaijan  — 1–1 7 Jun 11 Oct 0–2 15 Oct
Israel  6 Sep — 3–0 15 Oct 3–3 0–4
Luxembourg  0–0 0–6 — 10 Sep 1–2 11 Oct
Northern Ireland  1–1 0–2 1–1 — 6 Sep 14 Aug
Portugal  3–0 11 Oct 15 Oct 1–1 — 7 Jun
Russia  1–0 10 Sep 6 Sep 2–0 1–0 —


Fixtures

The match schedule was determined at a meeting in the city of Luxembourg, Luxembourg on Friday, 25 November 2011.[1]

7 September 2012
21:00 UTC+5
 Azerbaijan  1–1  Israel Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Attendance: 22,211
Referee: Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Abışov Goal 65' Report Natkho Goal 50'
11 September 2012
20:00 UTC+3
 Israel  0–4  Russia Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan
Attendance: 28,131
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England)
Report Kerzhakov Goal 7', 64'
Kokorin Goal 18'
Fayzulin Goal 78'
12 October 2012
21:00 UTC+2
 Luxembourg  0–6  Israel Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg
Attendance: 2,631
Referee: Leontios Trattou (Cyprus)
Report Radi Goal 4'
Ben Basat Goal 12'
Hemed Goal 27', 74', 90+1'
Melikson Goal 61'
16 October 2012
18:00 UTC+2
 Israel  3–0  Luxembourg Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan
Attendance: 20,400
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria)
Hemed Goal 13', 48'
Ben Basat Goal 35'		 Report
22 March 2013
14:45 UTC+2
 Israel  3–3  Portugal Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan
Attendance: 41,583
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)
Hemed Goal 24'
Ben Basat Goal 40'
Gershon Goal 70'		 Report Alves Goal 2'
Postiga Goal 72'
Coentrão Goal 90+3'
26 March 2013
19:45 UTC±0
 Northern Ireland  0–2  Israel Windsor Park, Belfast
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Hannes Kaasik (Estonia)
Report Refaelov Goal 78'
Ben Basat Goal 84'
7 September 2013
 Israel  v  Azerbaijan
10 September 2013
 Russia  v  Israel
11 October 2013
 Portugal  v  Israel
15 October 2013
 Israel  v  Northern Ireland

Friendly matches

Coaching staff

As of 14 November 2012[2]
Position Name Nationality
Manager Eli Guttman  Israel
Assistant Manager Yossi Abukasis  Israel
Goalkeeper Coach Giora Antman  Israel
Technical Manager Israel Shchuchinski‏  Israel
Mental Advisor Alon Olman  Israel
Head Doctor Mark Rosnovsky  Israel
Nutritionist Lior Many  Israel
Physiotherapist Liran Lifshitz  Israel
Masseur Eduard Kravzov  Israel
Masseur Shmuel Rozentsvaig  Israel
Masseur Moris Krikheli  Israel
Head of Logistics Yossi Hezi  Israel
Head of Logistics Gideon Mashiach  Israel

Current squad

The following 22 players were named for the friendly match against Honduras on the 2nd of June 2013.

Caps and goals updated as of 26 March 2013 after a match against Northern Ireland.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
18 GK Ariel Harush ) 8 February 1988 (age 25) 3 0 Israel Beitar Jerusalem
GK Ofir Martziano ) 7 October 1989 (age 23) 3 0 Israel Ashdod
3 DF Tal Ben Haim ) 31 March 1982 (age 31) 71 1 Canada Toronto FC
12 DF Dekel Keinan ) 15 September 1984 (age 28) 24 0 Israel Maccabi Haifa
2 DF Yuval Spungin ) 3 April 1987 (age 26) 23 0 Cyprus AC Omonia
17 DF Rami Gershon ) 12 August 1988 (age 24) 12 2 Scotland Celtic
21 DF Eytan Tibi ) 16 November 1987 (age 25) 10 0 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
19 DF Elad Gabai ) 15 November 1985 (age 27) 5 0 Israel Ironi Kiryat Shmona
22 DF Gal Shish ) 28 January 1989 (age 24) 3 0 Belgium Waasland-Beveren
DF Shir Tzedek ) 22 August 1989 (age 23) 10 0 Israel Ironi Kiryat Shmona
13 MF Sheran Yeini ) 8 December 1986 (age 26) 2 0 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
15 MF Yossi Benayoun (captain) ) 5 May 1980 (age 33) 92 24 England Chelsea
4 MF Gal Alberman ) 17 April 1983 (age 30) 32 1 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
9 MF Lior Refaelov ) 26 April 1986 (age 27) 21 5 Belgium Club Brugge
14 MF Eran Zahavi ) 25 July 1987 (age 25) 13 0 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
5 MF Maor Melikson ) 30 October 1984 (age 28) 12 3 France Valenciennes
19 MF Avi Reikan ) 10 September 1988 (age 24) 1 0 Israel Beitar Jerusalem
MF Hen Ezra ) 19 January 1989 (age 24) 3 0 Israel Maccabi Haifa
11 FW Itay Shechter ) 22 February 1987 (age 26) 18 4 Wales Swansea City
FW Elyaniv Barda ) 15 December 1981 (age 31) 30 12 Belgium Racing Genk
8 FW Eden Ben Basat ) 8 September 1986 (age 26) 8 5 France Toulouse
FW Shimon Abuhatzira ) 10 October 1986 (age 26) 2 0 Israel Ironi Kiryat Shmona

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Israeli squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Danny Amos ) 2 February 1987 (age 26) 0 0 Israel Ironi Kiryat Shmona v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013
GK Dudu Aouate ) 17 October 1977 (age 35) 73 0 Spain Mallorca v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013
DF Dan Mori ) 11 August 1988 (age 24) 7 0 Netherlands Vitesse v.  Finland 6 February 2013
DF Yoav Ziv ) 16 March 1981 (age 32) 32 0 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv v.  Belarus 14 November 2012
MF Beram Kayal ) 2 May 1988 (age 25) 24 1 Scotland Celtic v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013
MF Maharan Radi ) 1 July 1982 (age 30) 6 1 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013
MF Bibras Natkho ) 18 February 1988 (age 25) 25 1 Russia Rubin Kazan v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013
MF Avihai Yadin ) 26 October 1986 (age 26) 10 0 Israel Maccabi Haifa v.  Belarus 14 November 2012
MF Almog Cohen ) 1 January 1988 (age 25) 11 0 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv v.  Russia 11 September 2012
MF Gil Vermouth ) 5 August 1985 (age 27) 20 0 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv v.  Luxembourg 16 October 2012
FW Omer Damari ) 24 March 1989 (age 24) 10 3 Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv v.  Finland 6 February 2013
FW Ben Sahar ) 10 August 1989 (age 23) 31 6 Germany Hertha BSC v.  Russia 11 September 2012
FW Tomer Hemed ) 2 May 1987 (age 26) 14 9 Spain Mallorca v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013
FW Eliran Atar ) 17 February 1987 (age 26) 3 0 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv v.  Northern Ireland 26 March 2013

.

Player history

Main articles: List of Israel international footballers and Israel national football team records

Most capped players

As of March 26, 2013, the ten players with the most caps for Israel are:

Rank. Name Career Caps Goals
1 Arik Benado 1995–2007 94 0
2 Yossi Benayoun 1998–present 92 24
3 Alon Harazi 1992–2006 89 2
4 Amir Schelach 1992–2001 85 0
5 Mordechai Spiegler 1963–1977 83 33
Nir Klinger 1987–1997 83 2
6 Avi Nimni 1992–2005 80 17
7 Tal Banin 1990–2003 78 12
Itzhak Shum 1969–1981 78 10
Eyal Berkovic 1992–2004 78 9

Top goalscorers

As of March 26, 2013, the ten players with the most goals for Israel are:

Rank. Player Career Goals Caps
1 Mordechai Spiegler 1963–1977 33 83
2 Yehoshua Feigenbaum 1966–1977 24 50
Yossi Benayoun 1998–present 24 92
3 Ronen Harazi 1992–1999 23 53
4 Nahum Stelmach 1956–1968 22 61
5 Gidi Damti 1971–1981 21 69
6 Giora Spiegel 1965–1980 18 44
Yehoshua Glazer 1949–1961 18 35
7 Eli Ohana 1984–1997 17 51
Avi Nimni 1992–2005 17 80

Managers

Manager Years as manager Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF GA Win%[3]
Austria Egon Pollak 1948 1 0 0 1 0 1 00.00
Austria Israel Lajos Hess 1949 3 1 0 2 5 12 33.33
Hungary Vladislav Scali 1950 2 1 0 1 7 4 50.00
Israel Jerry Beit haLevi 1953–54 5 0 0 5 1 7 00.00
England Jack Gibbons 1956 5 2 0 3 7 12 40.00
Israel Jerry Beit haLevi 1957 1 0 0 1 4 5 00.00
Israel Moshe Varon 1958 5 2 0 3 6 7 40.00
Hungary Gyula Mándi 1959–63 31 12 7 12 49 63 38.71
England George Ainsley 1963–64 3 2 0 1 4 2 66.67
Israel Yosef Merimovich 1964 1 0 0 1 0 4 00.00
Hungary Gyula Mándi 1964 3 3 0 0 5 1 100.000
Israel Yosef Merimovich 1964–65 3 1 0 2 2 2 33.33
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Milovan Ćirić 1965–68 25 8 2 15 43 45 32.00
Israel Emmanuel Scheffer 1968–70 24 8 8 8 44 34 33.33
Romania Israel Edmond Schmilovich 1970–73 19 10 4 5 27 13 52.63
Israel David Schweitzer 1973–77 36 17 11 8 67 34 47.22
Israel Emmanuel Scheffer 1978–79 13 5 4 4 17 15 38.46
England Jack Mansell 1980–81 10 2 3 5 8 12 20.00
Israel Yosef Merimovich 1983–86 27 8 9 10 39 36 29.63
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Miljenko Mihić 1986–88 20 4 5 11 27 35 20.00
Israel Itzhak Schneor
Israel Ya'akov Grundman		 1988–92 18 5 5 8 21 30 27.78
Israel Shlomo Scharf 1992–2000 82 31 18 33 131 118 37.80
Denmark Richard Møller Nielsen 2000–02 20 7 4 9 29 33 35.00
Israel Avram Grant 2002–06 33 14 13 6 55 37 42.42
Israel Dror Kashtan 2006–10 19 10 4 5 27 19 52.63
Israel Eli Ohana (caretaker) 2010 1 1 0 0 2 0 100.000
France Spain Luis Fernández 2010–2011 15 6 1 8 12 18 40.00
Israel Eli Guttman 2011– 12 4 3 5 22 19 33.33

Honours

Group stage (1): 1970
Winners (1): 1964
Runners-up (2): 1956, 1960

See also

References

  1. ^ "Azerbaijan begins with away match against Israel – MATCH SCHEDULE". 25 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. ^ "National team staff". Israel Football Association. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  3. ^ Win% is rounded to two decimal places

External links