Israel national under-21 football team
 | |||
| Association | Israel Football Association | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach |
 | ||
| Captain | Neta Lavi | ||
| Most caps | Arik Benado (39)[1] | ||
| Top scorer | Alon Mizrahi (15)[2] | ||
| Home stadium | HaMoshava Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | ISR | ||
| |||
| First international | |||
 (Greece; 1990) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 (Israel) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 (Israel)  (Israel; 2013) | |||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2007) | ||
| Best result | Group Stage, 3rd Place | ||
Israel's national Under-21 team (Hebrew: הנבחרת הצעירה של ישראל בכדורגל) is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national football team. It has recently qualified for the European Championships to be held in the Netherlands after beating the French under-21 team 2-1 on aggregate.
This team consists of Israeli players aged 21 or under at the start of each two-year UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Team members may also simultaneously qualify to various teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s, or even the senior national team, so long as the meet the respective age restriction. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (provided the player is eligible).
The U-21 team has been constructed, following the Israel's acceptance as a full member of UEFA. A draw in a qualifier against Greece in Greece was Israel U-21s' first result.
Israel U-21s do not have a permanent home. They play in stadia dotted all around Israel in an attempt to encourage fans in all areas of the country to get behind Israel. Because of the lack of appeal compared to the senior national team, smaller grounds are used (such as HaMoshava Stadium).
Competition History
There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. European U-21 teams compete for the European Championship, with the finals every even-numbered year. It will be held in odd-numbered years from 2007. Israel has never fared well in European Under-21 Football Championships.
The current campaign started shortly after the 2006 finals - the qualification stage of the 2007 competition. UEFA have decided to shift the next tournament forward to avoid a clash with senior tournaments taking place in even-numbered years. The competition has therefore been reduced as qualifying must be completed in a year's less time. In their three-team qualification group, Israel finished ahead of Turkey and Wales. In the two-legged play-off against France for a place in the final stage, the team achieved a surprising 1-1 draw in France and won the home match 1-0, with Amir Taga scoring in stoppage time.
Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.
Competitive Record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship Record
| Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Qualifying Stage | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 16 |
| Qualifying Stage | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 11 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 9 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 13 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 |
 | Group Stage | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
 | Qualification Playoffs | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 5 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 8 |
| Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 15 |
 | Qualifying Stage | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 4 |
 | TBA | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 2/14 | 88 | 39 | 18 | 34 | 146 | 106 |
Players
Top Appearances
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arik Benado | Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem | 1992–1995 | 39 |
| 2 | Nir Sivilia | Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Yehuda, Beitar Jerusalem | 1993–1997 | 34 |
| 2 | Shay Holtzman | Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Haifa, Tzafririm Holon | 1992–1995 | 34 |
| 3 | Dekel Keinan | Maccabi Haifa, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Netanya | 2003–2007 | 30 |
| 4 | Alon Halfon | Maccabi Netanya, Hapoel Haifa | 1993–1995 | 29 |
| 4 | Tom Almadon | Maccabi Haifa | 2004–2007 | 29 |
| 5 | Ofer Talker | Ironi Ashdod, Hapoel Haifa | 1992–1995 | 28 |
| 6 | Ofir Kopel | Maccabi Haifa | 1994–1997 | 27 |
| 7 | Lior Jan | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2006–2008 | 26 |
| 8 | Moshe Ohayon | F.C. Ashdod | 2001–2005 | 24 |
Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Top Goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Year(s) | U-21 Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alon Mizrahi | Bnei Yehuda | 1992–1993 | 15 |
| 2 | Shay Holtzman | Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Haifa, Tzafririm Holon | 1992–1995 | 14 |
| 3 | Moanes Dabour | Maccabi Tel Aviv, Grasshopper | 2011–2014 | 13 |
| 4 | Nir Sivilia | Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Yehuda, Beitar Jerusalem | 1993–1997 | 12 |
| 5 | Ben Sahar | Chelsea, Espanyol | 2007–2010 | 8 |
| 5 | Maor Buzaglo | Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2007–2010 | 8 |
| 6 | Eli Abarbanel | Hapoel Petah Tikva | 1994–1999 | 7 |
| 6 | Amir Turgeman | Ironi Ashdod | 1992–1993 | 7 |
Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
2019 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2019 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Group 5
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 7 | +26 | 25 | Final tournament |
| 2 |  |
10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 13 | +2 | 15 | |
| 3 |  |
10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 15 | −3 | 14[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 4 | |
10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 14[lower-alpha 1] | |
| 5 |  |
10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 12 | |
| 6 |  |
10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 27 | −21 | 3 |
Coaching staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | |
| Assistant Manager | |
| Assistant Manager | |
| Goalkeeper Coach | |
| Fitness Coach | |
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification matches against Germany and Norway on 22 and 27 March 2018.
- Caps and goals as of 28 March 2018.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Omri Glazer | 11 March 1996 | 8 | 0 | |
| 18 | GK | Assaf Tzur | 28 August 1998 | 0 | 0 | |
| GK | Tamir Lalo | 9 June 1997 | 0 | 0 | | |
| 3 | DF | Shay Ben David | 19 July 1997 | 4 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | Nir Bardea | 25 January 1996 | 3 | 0 | |
| 5 | DF | Amit Bitton | 24 July 1996 | 6 | 0 | |
| 16 | DF | Yarden Cohen | 26 March 1997 | 1 | 0 | |
| 17 | DF | Idan Nachmias | 17 March 1997 | 3 | 1 | |
| 22 | DF | Manamto Asefa | 19 November 1998 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | Paz Ben Ari | 10 December 1996 | 2 | 0 | | |
| 2 | MF | Raz Meir | 30 November 1996 | 7 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | Dan Glazer | 20 September 1996 | 5 | 0 | |
| 7 | MF | Maxim Plakuschenko | 4 January 1996 | 12 | 2 | |
| 8 | MF | Neta Lavi | 25 August 1996 | 7 | 0 | |
| 15 | MF | Tom Rosenthal | 3 September 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
| 20 | MF | Gabriel Knyakovski | 24 August 1997 | 4 | 0 | |
| MF | Or Dasa | 20 September 1998 | 1 | 1 | | |
| MF | Omer Lakou | 7 February 1998 | 0 | 0 | | |
| 9 | FW | Sean Weissman | 14 February 1996 | 5 | 1 | |
| 10 | FW | Matan Hozez | 12 August 1996 | 6 | 0 | |
| 11 | FW | Manor Solomon | 24 July 1999 | 3 | 0 | |
| 12 | FW | Mohammed Awaed | 9 June 1997 | 3 | 0 | |
| 13 | FW | Yonas Malede | 14 November 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | Mohammed Shaker | 14 November 1996 | 1 | 0 | | |
Recent callups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months:
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Sahar Hasson | 24 April 1996 | 2 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Raz Nachmias | May 6, 1996 | 3 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Amir Nassar | 24 November 1996 | 2 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Ofek Fishler | 24 August 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Maxim Grechkin | 4 March 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
v.  |
| DF | Shay Konstantini | 27 July 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Bar Hillel | May 5, 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v.  |
| DF | Maron Gantous | 15 June 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Noam Gamon | 8 March 1997 | 2 | 0 | |
v. |
| DF | Abdi Farhat | June 3, 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Yonatan Cohen | 29 June 1996 | 3 | 1 | |
v. |
| MF | Aviv Avraham | 30 March 1996 | 3 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Moti Barshazki | 6 September 1996 | 6 | 2 | |
v. |
| MF | Yuval Haliva | 8 May 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Ariel Hadar | 10 September 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Ihab Ganayem | 11 June 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Amran El Krenawy | February 21, 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| MF | Eliel Peretz | 18 November 1996 | 8 | 2 | |
v. |
| FW | Lior Inbrum | 12 January 1996 | 4 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Dean David | 14 March 1996 | 9 | 1 | |
v.  |
| FW | Daniel Avital | 1 January 1997 | 1 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Amit Zenati | 2 April 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
| FW | Mamoon Qashoua | 29 December 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
v. |
See also
References
External links
- Uefa Under-21 website Contains full results archive
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21 Championship hosts and additional statistics, such as the Group Winners table for the 1998 qualifiers.
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