Israel Moves Up To 24 In FIFA Rankings

Israel has moved to 24th place in the FIFA World Rankings. Israel’s highest ever placement was 15th place.

Israelis Abroad – Weekend Roundup

England

• Yossi Benayoun came on in the 48th minute for Liverpool in their 4-0 win over Burnley.
• Tamir Cohen did not play.
• Tal Ben-Haim did not play.

Spain

• Ben Sahar came on in the 86th minute in Espanyol’s 1-0 win over Almeria.
• Dudu Aouate played the whole game in Mallorca’s 1-1 tie with Malaga.

Germany

• Roberto Colautti came on in the 81st minute in Monchegladbach’s 1-1 tie with Munich.
• Gal Alberman did not play.

Russia

• Bibras Natcho did not play.
• Ze’ev Haimovic did not play.

Netherlands

• No games were played last weekend.

Turkey

• Pini Balili came on in the 88th minute in Antalyaspor’s 2-1 win.

Belgium

• Elyaniv Barda did not play.
• Omer Golan came on in the 68th minute and scored a goal in Lokeren’s 1-1 draw with Brugge.
• Avi Strul played the whole game for Lokeren.
• Yoav Ziv played the whole game for Lokeren.
• Rami Gershon did not play.

Luis Fernandez Signs Contract

After sorting out contract difficulties, Luis Fernandez has put pen to paper and signed his contract with Israel’s National Football Team. His contract will start effective May 1, 2010 but he will be in Israel on Monday to watch the match of the season, Hapoel Tel-Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa. Both teams contain many candidates for National Team positions and it will be his first look at those players. Best of luck and success to Luis and the Team.

Israelis Abroad – Weekend Roundup

England

• Yossi Benayoun scored a goal and played 78 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over West Ham.
• Tamir Cohen did not play.
• Tal Ben-Haim did not play due to injury.

Spain

• Dudu Aouate played the whole game against Osasuna in a 2-0 win for Mallorca.
• Ben Sahar did not play.

Germany

• Roberto Colautti came on in the 86th minute in Monchengladbach’s 3-1 loss to Schalke.
• Gal Alberman did not play.

Russia

• Bibras Natcho played the whole game and scored a goal in Rubin Kazan’s 1-0 win over Amkar Perm.
• Ze’ev Haimovic did not play.

Netherlands

• Ohad Levita played the whole game in RKC Waalwijk’s 4-0 loss to Den Haag.

Turkey

• Pini Balili did not play.

Greece

• Shimon Abuhatzeira  played the whole game in Larissa’s 2-1 loss to Levadiakos.
• Salim Tuama came on in the 76th minute in Larissa’s 2-1 loss to Levadiakos.

Belgium

• Rami Gershon did not play.
• Elyaniv Barda scored  a goal and played the whole game in Racing Genk’s 1-1 tie with Standard Liege.
• Avi Strul played the whole game in Lokeren’s 2-2 tie with Mechelen.
• Yoav Ziv played the whole game in Lokeren’s 2-2 tie with Mechelen.
• Omer Golan did not play.

Ten out of Eighteen Israelis Abroad played this weekend.

Today Is Yom Hazikaron

Let’s remember those who gave their lives so Israel can have a national football team.

Fernandez Still Hasn’t Signed Contract

According to the Israeli website ONE, Luis Fernandez still hasn’t agreed to a contract with Israel’s Football Association. Despite having Fernandez announced as the National Team coach, there are apparently is a large gap between the two parties regarding the terms of the contract. However, the IFA has refuted this and said that Fernandez will soon sign after Israel’s Independence Day and that the differences are minor. Read more here.

Omer Golan Signs Contract Extension

Omer Golan has signed a two year contract extension with Belgian club KSC Lokeren. According to Haaretz, the team had received an offer of 400,000 Euros for him, but Golan declined the move. He had been on the bench for most of the season with Lokeren, although recently he has started several games and scored a goal. Omer played a little bit in Israel’s friendly against Romania in March, and missed a point blank opportunity to score. Due to his lack of play, Omer has found himself moving down in the pecking order of Israel’s national team.

Klemi Saban Is Linked To Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s rebuilding continues. According to a report from TELESPORT, Gal Alberman has already agreed to terms and a transfer fee is currently being negotiated with Borussia Monchengladbach that will bring him home to Israel in the summer. Meanwhile Maccabi Tel-Aviv have gone after Israeli international Klemi Saban who currently plays for Maccabi Netanya. Saban plays as a right back primarily and will compliment the purchase of Yoav Ziv who plays at left back and will be arriving in the summer to Tel-Aviv from Lokeren. If the purchases of these players go through then Maccabi will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the next season.

Israelis Abroad – Weekend Roundup

England

• Yossi Benayoun came on in the 72nd minute in Liverpool’s 0-0 tie with Fulham.
• Tal Ben-Haim did not play because he is injured.
• Tamir Cohen did not play.

Spain

• Dudu Aouate played the whole game against Valencia in Mallorca’s 3-2 win.
• Ben Sahar did not play.

Germany

• Roberto Colautti came on in the 89th minutes in Monchengladbach’s 2-0 win.
• Gal Alberman did not play.

Russia

• Bibras Natcho played the whole game in Kazan’s 1-1 tie with Nalchik.
• Ze’ev Haimovic played the whole game in Grozny’s loss to Spartak Moscow.

Netherlands

• Ohad Levita played the whole game in RKC Waalwijk’s 4-1 win over Arnhem.

Turkey

• Pini Balili did not play.

Greece

• Salim Tuama scored a goal and played 80 minutes in Larissa’s 3-0 win over Panionios.
• Shimon Abuhatzeira did not play.

Belgium

• Rami Gershon did not play.
• Elyaniv Barda scored a goal and played 87 minutes in Genk’s 2-1 win over Charleroi.
• Omer Golan scored a goal and played 78 minutes in Lokeren’s 3-3 tie with Westerlo.
• Yoav Ziv did not play.
• Avi Strul did not play.

Nine out of eighteen Israelis Abroad played this weekend.

National Team Pool – Keepers

I would like to apologize to the readers of our blog for publishing this article so late. This is the last article in a series evaluating the options that Israel’s National Football Team has, going into the next qualifying campaign. This article is on the goalkeepers available to the National Team.

Lock

Most teams with a good keeper often take it for granted, goalkeepers are usually only noticed when they make mistakes. However Israel has had a solid goal keeper for a long time since Dudu Aouate has been included in the starting eleven. Aouate has been a solid goalkeeper with a good resume of playing abroad for Racing Santander, Deportivo La Coruna, and Mallorca. Aouate still has several years of playing left since he is only 32 years old.

Probable

In the case that Dudu Aouate gets injured Nir Davidovic will probably step in as his replacement, although a year older than Dudu, both Nir and Dudu have had an intense rivalry over the starting goalkeeping spot since Dudu overtook Nir  for the starting spot on the national team. Nir is noted for making spectacular saves but he has also been noted for making some horrendous mistakes. See the video below on him.

Names For The future

Ariel Harush is the current keeper for Beitar Jerusalem and could be the successor to Dudu Aouate as he ages. Harush has impressed this season with his great reactions and leaping ability. He is the current goalkeeper for the U-21 team and its captain. Ohad Levita is a former U-21 goalkeeper and he has show he has what it takes this season in the Dutch Eredivisie with his outstanding performances. Despite playing for relegation bound RKC Waalwijk, Levita may have earned himself a stay in the Dutch first division with his play this season.