Israel: From unsettled past to high European standards

Upon the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, the Israeli Football Federation was founded as the successor Mandatory Palestine/Eretz Israel, and in September of the same year the first official match was played, against the USA Olympic team (1:3). Shmuel Ben Dror entered the history books as the first Israeli goalscorer.

Israel reached its only World Cup in Mexico 1970, with the European Championships appearance still in waiting. For political reasons, Israel transferred from Asian Football Confederation to Oceania to join two more World Cup qualifying campaigns, and since the early nineties it is a member of European football family. The Israelis are especially proud of the away win (3:2) in France in 1993, through goals from Harazi, and Berkovich and Atar in the closing minutes.

Israel came close to EURO berth in 2000, losing only to Denmark in the play-off stage. On the road to France 2016, Belgium, Wales, and Bosnia-Herzegovina topped the Israelis, who hosted and won the Asian Cup in 1964 and twice appeared in the Olympics (1968 and 1976).

Yossi Benayoun and Tal Ben Haim, veterans who proved their quality in English Premiership giants, are the most famous names of Israeli football. Benayoun, currently of Maccabi Haifa, holds the national team record with 96 caps, and Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal fans hold him in very high regard. Ben Haim, with 91 caps to his name, plays his football at Maccabi Tel Aviv, also settling at home upon return from Chelsea and Manchester City, but misses Osijek encounter as well as Bibras Nathko of CSKA Moscow, one of the best foreign players in Russia.

Arik Benado, retired defender of Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem, has 94 caps and is an assistant coach in national team staff, while Mordechai Spiegler scored a record 33 internationals goals in 83 matches between 1963 and 1977.

Football fans also recognize the names of Beram Kayal and Nir Biton as a former and a current Celtic player, and Lior Rafaelov of Belgian side Club Brugge. Eran Zahavi, the versatile playmaker of Maccabi Tel Aviv is the superstar of Israeli league and subject of European giants' great interest, as well as the key for the national team future challenges. Moreover, Elyaniv Barda of Hapoel Beer Sheva brings further experience to Israeli attacking line. Zahavi and Rafaelov, however, have to miss out Osijek visit due to injury.

From 2013, the Israel national football team play its home matches at modern stadiums Sammy Ofer in Haifa and Teddy in Jerusalem.

In Osijek, Israel U-17 head coach Alon Hazan will take the role of the provisional manager, following Eli Gutman's term closure in October, and the defeat in Belgium that ended Israelis' hopes of reaching France this summer. The future head coach of the senior national team will have to face 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign in the group alongside Spain, Italy, Albania, Macedonia and Liechtenstein.

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