National Team Announced

Discussion in 'Israel' started by MHaifa1913, Dec 25, 2002.

  1. MHaifa1913

    MHaifa1913 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Metro
    United States
    Dec 21, 1998
    New York, NY, USA
    Club:
    Maccabi Haifa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Manager Avraham Grant displays his full squad
    Once again left out of the squad were Hapoel Tel Aviv's Yossi Abuksis and Pini Balili, and Maccabi Haifa's Yaniv Katan. The team will be training at Kibbutz Eilot next to the resort city of Eilat in the Red Sea.

    Yigal Antebi has received his first call up after his national service has been settled. IFA regulations state that no Jewish player may play for the national team if he does not complete the necessary three years of service in the Israel Defense Forces. Antebi made a deal in which he does national service working with kids battling cancer because he did not go to the IDF.

    Full Squad:
    Goalkeepers-
    Dudu Awat, Shavit Elimelech, Liron Strauber

    Defenders-
    Yigal Antebi, Arik Benado, Avishai Jano, Gadi Brumer, Adoram Keisi, Alon Harazi, Shimon Gershon, Erez Eliav, Assi Domb

    Midfielders-
    Tal Banin, Michael Zandberg, Eli Biton, Gal Elberman, Baruch Dago, Avi Nimni, Walid Badir

    Strikers-
    Omri Afek, Kfir Udi, Shai Holtzman

    There is no place like home
    Due to the punishment given to the IFA, Israel must play games away from home, with that noted, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania have all extended the Israeli national team an invitation for Israel to host their Euro 2004 qualifiers in their respected countries. Meanwhile, IFA chariman Gavri Levi is also looking into the possibility of playing in Italy.

    Southern Comfort
    The announcement of the national team did not sit well with some people who live in southern Israel. While the south technically has two representatives in Ligat ha-Al (Sport Club Ashdod and Hapoel Be'er Sheva), none were selected from Be'er Sheva, the capital of southern Israel.

    Manager Lufa Kadosh was critical of national team manager Avraham Grant's decision to leave out the players of Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Former national team manager Shlomo Scharf was also critical of Grant's picks. He told Radio Darom that in nother country does a manger pick players that haven't played all season nor does he pick players that have just come of long term injuries.
     

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