Benayoun and katan
צילום: רויטרס
Soccer: Israel ready to face Estonia, Andorra
Coach Kashtan names squad for first Euro 2008 qualifiers away to Estonia on Saturday and at home to Andorra the following Wednesday in Netherlands
Israel coach Dror Kashtan has named a 22-man squad for their first two Euro 2008 qualifiers away to Estonia on Saturday and at home to Andorra the following Wednesday in the Netherlands.
The home venue for Israel's second Group E clash will be in Nijmegen due to UEFA's ban on international matches under its jurisdiction being played in the Jewish State, the Israeli FA said on Monday. Estonia will host Israel in Tallinn.
England, Croatia, Russia and Macedonia are also in Israel's Euro 2008 qualifying group.
Last month UEFA prevented Israeli clubs from hosting matches on home soil because of the month-long war in the north of the country between Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbullah and Israel, which ended with a ceasefire on Aug. 14.
The squad announced on Monday includes nine players from league title contenders Beitar Jerusalem. Champions Maccabi Haifa are the next best represented club with four players.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Dudu Aouate (Deportivo Coruna), Nir Davidovich (Maccabi Haifa).
Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Bolton Wanderers), Shimon Gershon (Beitar Jerusalem), Tomer Ben Yosef (Beitar Jerusalem), Omri Afek (Beitar Jerusalem), Roni Gafni (Beitar Jerusalem), Yoav Ziv (Beitar Jerusalem), Klemi Saban (Steaua Bucharest), Dekel Keinan (Maccabi Haifa).
Midfielders: Idan Tal (Bolton Wanderers), Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United), Yossi Shivhon (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Michael Zandberg (Beitar Jerusalem), Gal Alberman (Beitar Jerusalem), Walid Badir (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Salim Tuama (Hapoel Tel Aviv).
Strikers: Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa), Shlomi Arbeitman (Maccabi Haifa), Omer Golan (Maccabi Petah Tikva), Toto Tamuz (Beitar Jerusalem), Amit Ben Shushan (Beitar Jerusalem).
