Israel national American football team

The Israel national American football team is the official American football senior national team of Israel. The team formed in 2012, mainly with Israeli Football League players and coaching staff.

Israel ישראל
Home
Away
AssociationAFI
RegionEurope (EFAF)
Founded2012
IFAF Affiliation
ColorsBlue and White
Head coachYonah Mishaan
Defensive CoordinatorLewis Henry Esler Duker
General managerNeria Granevich

First game

The first international American football game played by Israel was played on 17 May 2012 in Baptist village near Petah Tikva, when the Israeli national team met Maranatha Baptist Bible College.[1] For Israeli players it was the first-ever game on a 100-yard field in an 11 player team. In the IFL, American football is played on 60-yard fields by 9 player teams (in 2012, the IFL played with 8 player teams). The game finished with a 49 - 6 Maranatha win.[2]

Current playing squad
2015 Israel National American Football Team Playing Squad (vs Spain)
Quarterbacks
  •  5 Matt Kauffman (Haifa Underdogs)
  • 13 Alex Swieca (University of Michigan Wolverines)

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

European Championship of American football

2018 European Championship

The first official game in EFAF competitions took place on 30 August 2015 in Madrid. The opponents were Spain from EFAF C Group European Championship. As a new entrant, Israel could earn its way into Group B.[3] Israel won the game 28–20.[4]

Israel then played in the four-team Group B European Championship in Italy in September 2016 with the winner of the four-team tournament eligible for another qualifying round against either Denmark or Sweden,[5] the sixth and fifth place of the 2014 championship respectively, to the A Championship, then planned to be held in Germany in 2018.

The Israel delegation of 45 players and 18 coaches was the largest ever Israeli delegation sent international for a single sport competition.[6]

DateOpponentVenueFinal ScoreCompetitionResultMVP
30 August 2015 SpainPrado de Santo Domingo, Madrid, ESP28 - 20EFAF European Championship Qualifier for Group BWinDani Eastman [7]
02 September 2016 ItalyLignano Sabbiadoro, ITA10 - 40[8]EFAF European Championship Group B SemifinalLoss
04 September 2016  SwitzerlandLignano Sabbiadoro, ITA0 - 51[9]EFAF European Championship Group B third place matchLoss

See also

References
  1. Tepper, Greg (16 May 2012). "In 'grass roots miracle,' Israel national team to play its first football game". Times of Israel.
  2. "Israel's American football team debuts". Foxsports. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  3. "Israel's national football team heads to Spain for first int'l showdown". Jerusalem Post. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  4. Israel's Football Team Defeats Spain in First International Game
  5. Israel’s tackle football team to compete in Europe
  6. Israeli football team set to take on the world
  7. "Israel Beats Spain In First International Game to Qualify for IFAF Europe's Group B". American Football International. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. Italy Vs Israel
  9. Switzerland Vs Israel
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