Israel national football team
The
Israel National Football Team has participated in four different continents: Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania in the Football World Cup qualifiers, before settling in Europe as a member of
UEFA. The
Israel Football Association (IFA) was founded under the name
Palestine Football Association in 1928, 20 years before the creation of the state of
Israel. PFA was accepted as a full member of FIFA in 1929. PFA first dealt with local leagues, but later also managed the national team that was created to participate in the
World Cup qualifications (participated in
1934 and
1938 as
Palestine/Eretz Yisrael national team).
The Israeli side has only appeared in one World Cup (1970).
Before Independence
Palestine played its first official game in 1934 in the world cup qualifiers losing 1-7 to
Egypt. The team's first goal ever was scored by
Avraham Nudelmann. Upon creation of the State of Israel in 1948, IFA became the official association of the new state. The Israel national team's first game as an independent state was on
September 26,
1948, against the
USA (result: 1-3 to the USA).
Asian History
In 1964 Israel hosted the
Asian Nations Cup and won 2-1 against
South Korea. In 1968 Israel went to their first
Olympic Games and lost to
Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. In 1970 Israel qualified for their first and only
World Cup, but only got two points after draws with
Sweden and finalist
Italy and a loss to
Uruguay. In 1976, Israel went to their second
Olympic Games and lost in the quarter-finals again, this time against
Brazil. In 1989, Israel made it to the
playoffs of WC Italy 1990 from the top of the
Oceania group, to play against
Colombia who qualified from the South American group, but lost (1-0, 0-0). In 2000, Israel made it to the playoffs of
Euro 2000, but was beaten by
Denmark.
European History
In
2006 World Cup qualifying, Israel finished third in European zone Group Four behind
France and
Switzerland despite being unbeaten in their 10 matches after four wins and six draws, and failed to qualify for the
finals. Coach
Avraham Grant announced his resignation on
26 October 2005. After the end of his contract he was succeeded by
Dror Kashtan.
*
1930 -
Did not enter*
1934 to
1938 -
Did not qualify (as Palestine)*
1950 to
1966 -
Did not qualify*
1970 - Round 1
*
1974 to
2006 -
Did not qualify*
1956 - Second place
*
1960 - Second place
*
1964 -
Champions*
1968 - Third place
*
1972 onwards -
Did not enter, no longer member of AFC*
1960 to
1992 -
Did not enter, was not a full UEFA member until 1994*
1996 to
2004 -
Did not qualifyGoalkeepers;Defenders| Name | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut|- | Adoram Keisi | Maccabi Haifa | 52 (4) | v Georgia, February 23 1994 |
|---|
| Arik Benado | Maccabi Haifa | 88 (0) | v Brazil, May 17 1995 |
| Klemi Saban | Steaua Bucureşti | 10 (0) | v France, September 4 2004 |
| Shimon Gershon | Beitar Jerusalem | 36 (2) | v Estonia, January 18 1999 |
| Tal Ben Haim | Bolton Wanderers | 24 (0) | v Germany, February 13 2002 |
| Avi Yehiel | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 3 (1) | v republic of Ireland, June 4 2005 |
| Tomer Ben-Yosef | Beitar Jerusalem | 7 (0) | v Azerbaijan, February 18 2004 |
| Tal Hen | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 0 (0) | v n/a |
| Alon Harazi | Maccabi Haifa | 88 (1) | v Poland, September 9 1992 |
| Avi Strul | Maccabi Netanya | 1 (0) | v Luxembourg, September 5 2002 |
| Ronny Gafney | Beitar Jerusalem | 1 (0) | v Denmark, March 1 2006 |
;Midfielders| Name | Club | Caps (goals) | Debut|- | Yossi Benayoun | West Ham United | 48 (11) | v Portugal, November 18 1998 |
|---|
| Avi Nimni | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 80 (17) | v USSR, February 12 1992 |
| Idan Tal | Bolton Wanderers | 58 (4) | v Turkey, February 18 1998 |
| Michael Zandberg | Beitar Jerusalem | 14 (4) | v Lithuania, August 21 2002 |
| Walid Badir | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 61 (11) | v Belarus, August 5 1997 |
| Abbas Suan | Maccabi Haifa | 11 (1) | v Azerbaijan, February 18 2004 |
| Salim Tuama | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 2 (0) | v Ukraine, August 15 2005 |
| Omri Afek | Beitar Jerusalem | 22 (4) | v Lithuania, August 21 2002 |
| David Revivo | FC Ashdod | 3 (0) | v Cyprus, November 17 2004 |
| Yossi Shivkhon | Hapoel Petach Tikva | 1 (0) | v Poland, August 17 2005 |
;Strikers
