Israel | |
Fifa Trigramme: | ISR |
Nickname: | Hebrew: התכולים-לבנים (The Skyblue and Whites) Hebrew: הנבחרת (The Chosen Team) |
Badge: | Israel football association.svg |
Badge Size: | 185px |
Association: | Israel Football Association (IFA) |
Confederation: | UEFA (Europe; 1980–81; 1991–present) OFC (Oceania; 1985–89) AFC (Asia; 1954–74) |
Coach: | Ran Ben Shimon |
Captain: | Eli Dasa[1] |
Most Caps: | Yossi Benayoun (101) |
Top Scorer: | Eran Zahavi (35) |
Fifa Max: | 15 |
Fifa Max Date: | November 2008 |
Fifa Min: | 99 |
Fifa Min Date: | January 2018 |
Elo Max: | 23 |
Elo Max Date: | April 1976 |
Elo Min: | 81 |
Elo Min Date: | December 1959 |
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First Game: | as the State of Israel: |
World Cup Apps: | 1 |
World Cup First: | 1970 |
World Cup Best: | Group stage (1970) |
Regional Name: | European Championship |
2Ndregional Name: | Asian Cup |
2Ndregional Cup Apps: | 4 |
2Ndregional Cup First: | 1956 |
2Ndregional Cup Best: | Champions (1964) |
3Rdregional Name: | Asian Games |
3Rdregional Cup Apps: | 2 |
3Rdregional Cup First: | 1958 |
3Rdregional Cup Best: | Silver Medal (1974) |
The Israel national football team (Hebrew: נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל|{{Italics correction|Nivḥeret Yīsrāʾēl BeḴaduregel) represents Israel in men's international football, and is governed by the Israel Football Association. They have been members of the European Confederation UEFA since 1994.
Israel qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 1970. They also won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup, before a forced relocation to UEFA.
See main article: History of the Israel national football team and Mandatory Palestine national football team.
Football has a long tradition in Israel. The game was originally introduced during the time of the Ottoman Empire. The Palestinian Football Association was formed in August 1928, and joined FIFA in June 1929, but at the time the association was made up of Arab clubs, Jewish clubs, and clubs representing British policemen and soldiers serving in the region during the British Mandate rule that spanned the period between World War I and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The Mandatory Palestine national football team made its debut against Cairo (Egypt) in 1934 FIFA World Cup qualification, losing 0–5 in Cairo, Egypt. The team played five international matches, including a friendly match against Lebanon that Palestine won 1–5; until the British Mandate for Palestine national team was dissolved. During those five games, the national team fielded only Jewish players. Three anthems were played before each match: the British "God Save the King", the Jewish (and future Israeli) "HaTikvah", and the opposing team's anthem.[2]
In 1948 the team became, officially, the national football team of (the State of) Israel.[3] The Israel national team's first match as an independent nation was on 26 September 1948, against the US Olympic Team. The game was won by the US 1–3, and in the 20th minute of the game Shmuel Ben-Dror scored the first goal after the creation of the State of Israel.
Israel was one of the founding members of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) following its own independence in 1948 (prior to that it played under the banner of the "British Mandate of Palestine").[4] After the 1974 Asian Games in Iran, and Israel's 0–1 tense loss to Iran in the finals,[5] Kuwait and other Muslim and Arab countries refused to play them. Following this, Israel were expelled from the confederation and spent a few years trying to qualify from such continental bodies as the OFC (Oceania), before eventually joining UEFA (Europe) officially.[6]
Israel competed at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) between 1954 and 1974. Due to the Arab League boycott of Israel, several Muslim countries refused to compete against Israel. The political situation culminated in Israel winning the 1958 World Cup qualifying stage for Asia and Africa without playing a single game, forcing FIFA to schedule a playoff between Israel and Wales to ensure the team did not qualify without playing at least one game (which Wales won).
Israel hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup.
In 1968, Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria in the quarterfinals.
In 1969, Israel qualified for its first and only FIFA World Cup, via Asia/Oceania. Israel earned two points after a 1–1 draw with Sweden, a 0–0 draw with eventual finalist Italy, and a 0–2 loss to Uruguay. The goal against Sweden, scored by Mordechai Spiegler, is Israel's only FIFA World Cup goal to date.
In 1974, Israel was excluded from AFC competitions, as a result of a proposal by Kuwait (as other Muslim and Arab countries refused to play against Israel), that was adopted by a vote of 17 to 13 with 6 abstentions.[7] [6] The vote coincided with the 1974 Asian Games, where the football competition was marred by the refusal of both North Korea[8] and Kuwait to play second-round matches against Israel.
In 1976, Israel went to its second Olympic Games and lost in the quarterfinals again, this time against Brazil. In 1973 and 1977, Israel participated in the World Cup qualification tournament which included teams from both Asia and Oceania, but failed to qualify.
During the early 1980s, Israel played the majority of its matches against UEFA (Europe) teams, and competed in the European stage of qualification for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
For the next two tournaments, Israel entered Oceania's (OFC) qualification stage.
In 1989, Israel won the OFC second round (Oceania) by finishing above both Australia and New Zealand. As a result, Israel made it to the CONMEBOL–OFC play-offs to represent Oceania and play against CONMEBOL's (South America) Colombia for the 1990 World Cup, but lost (1–0, 0–0).
In 1991, Israeli clubs began participating in European club competitions of UEFA, and Israel returned to the European leg of World Cup qualifying in 1992. In 1994, Israel received full UEFA membership, 20 years after it had left Asia. Within Europe, Israel has been a relatively minor nation, though with some successes, notably winning 3–2 in Paris against France in 1993, and 5–0 against Austria in 1999. That year, Israel made it to the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying play-offs, but was beaten by Denmark.
Israel came close to advancing to the playoff stage in their 2006 World Cup qualifying group, finishing third, behind France, and tied on points with Switzerland, which also remained unbeaten in 10 matches after 4 wins and 6 draws. The Swiss had a better goal difference, though, and advanced to the qualification play-off. Coach Avram Grant announced his resignation on 26 October 2005. After the end of his contract, he was succeeded by Dror Kashtan.
In UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, Israel came very close to qualifying for the final tournament, but finished fourth in Group E, just one point behind second-placed Russia, who qualified directly with Croatia, and level on 23 points with England, who also failed to advance. The 4–3 home loss to Croatia was the first loss after 13 consecutive official games and 9 home games without a loss.
In 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, Israel again came in fourth, behind Switzerland, Greece, and Latvia. For the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, Kashtan was replaced as coach by Frenchman Luis Fernández but Israel failed to qualify again, finishing third behind Greece and Croatia.
The continued presence of the Israeli Football Association in UEFA was a precedent cited by Australia to justify its transfer from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation.[9]
In 2018, Willi Ruttensteiner was appointed as technical director. A national football academy was founded and three supporting development centers were established.[10]
Israel subsequently failed to qualify for any World Cup or European Championship finals, and performed inconsistently during the qualifying phases in which they took part, alternating between the good and the not-so-good. However, in the qualifiers for Euro 2020, they came very close to making history. Despite finishing 5th and penultimate in their particularly homogeneous qualifying group, Israel earned the right to play in the play-offs thanks to their position in the 2018-2019 edition of the Nations League. They first had to play in the semi-final of the Path C play-off in Scotland to earn the right to play in the final of the play-off in Serbia, which defeated Norway away in extra time. The game was tight, and the Israelis were finally eliminated in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless draw in regulation time and extra time (0–0, 3:5), Eran Zahavi having missed the first Israeli shot.
Promoted to League B for the 2020-2021 edition of the Nations League without having finished top of their group in the previous edition, thanks to the change of format subsequently decided by UEFA, Israel ensured their survival by finishing 3rd and penultimate in their group, with a balanced record of 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. At the 2022-2023 Nations League, Israel finished top of its 3-team group (Russia, which should have taken part, was excluded from European and international competitions due to its aggression against Ukraine), thanks to 2 wins over Albania (2–1 in both legs) and 2 draws against Iceland (2–2 on each occasion), synonymous with promotion to League A for the 2024-2025 edition.
In the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Israel was again eliminated at the play-off stage, as in the previous edition. Indeed, they finished 3rd in their qualifying group and saw their place in the play-offs assured thanks to their status as group winners at the 2022-2023 Nations League. Against Iceland in the semi-finals of the play-offs for Path B, they opened the scoring with Eran Zahavi's 31st-minute penalty, but failed to hold on to their advantage and were soundly beaten (1–4). The turning points of the match were Roy Revivo's 73rd-minute red card for a crude foul, and Eran Zahavi's penalty miss 7 minutes after the red card, when the score was 1–2.
The first home game of the Israel national football team was at Palms Ground on 6 April 1934 against Egypt in a 1934 World Cup qualifier. Prior to the formation of Israel, they also played at the Maccabi Ground for the 1938 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Maccabiah Stadium. The first national team to represent the newly formed State of Israel back in 1948, had played at the Ramat Gan Stadium as part of 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification, in front of 55,000 spectators. The Ramat Gan Stadium would remain Israel's home stadium until 2013.
Since the construction of Sammy Ofer Stadium in the city of Haifa, Teddy Stadium in the city of Jerusalem, Turner Stadium in the city of Be'er Sheva, Netanya Stadium in the city of Netanya and Bloomfield Stadium in the city of Tel Aviv – the Israel national team has rotated their official home matches between the latter five.
Image | Stadium | Capacity | Location | First match | Last match | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
51 | UEFA | Bloomfield Stadium | 29,400 | Tel Aviv, Israel | 17 May 1964 | 12 September 2023 |
14 | UEFA | Teddy Stadium | 31,733 | Jerusalem, Israel | 12 February 1992 | 19 June 2023 |
12 | UEFA | Sammy Ofer Stadium | 30,942 | Haifa, Israel | 16 November 2014 | 2 June 2022 |
9 | UEFA | Netanya Stadium | 13,610 | Netanya, Israel | 6 February 2013 | 29 March 2022 |
4 | UEFA | Turner Stadium | 16,126 | Be'er Sheva, Israel | 14 October 2018 | 12 October 2021 |
Image | Stadium | Capacity | Location | First match | Last match | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
137 | Ramat Gan Stadium | 41,583 | Ramat Gan, Israel | 8 March 1954 | 15 October 2013 | ||
3 | Maccabiah Stadium | 20,000 | Tel Aviv, Israel | 30 July 1949 | 28 October 1950 |
Kit supplier | Origin | Period | |
---|---|---|---|
Umbro | United Kingdom | 1970 | |
Diadora | Italy | 1992–1995 | |
Adidas | Germany | 2008–2018 | |
Puma | Germany | 1985–1989 1996–2008 2018–2024 |
See also: Israel national football team results (2020–present). The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Position | Name | |
---|---|---|
Head coach | Ran Ben Shimon | |
Assistant coach | Amir Schelach | |
Gal Cohen | ||
Fitness coach | Eran Shedo | |
Matan Shoshani | ||
Goalkeeping coach | Itay Zilpa | |
Analyst | Adar Rosenberg | |
Maayan Bahalul | ||
Technical manager | Roy Reinschreiber | |
Avi Levi | ||
Head doctor | Ehud "Udi" Kaufman |
Manager | Years as manager | width=28 | width=28 | width=28 | width=28 | Win%[15] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | ||||||||||||
1949 | ||||||||||||
1950 | ||||||||||||
1953–54 | ||||||||||||
1956 | ||||||||||||
1957 | ||||||||||||
1958 | ||||||||||||
1959–63 | ||||||||||||
1963–64 | ||||||||||||
1964 | ||||||||||||
1964 | ||||||||||||
1964–65 | ||||||||||||
1965–68 | ||||||||||||
1968–70 | ||||||||||||
1970–73 | ||||||||||||
1973–77 | ||||||||||||
1978–79 | ||||||||||||
1980–81 | ||||||||||||
1983–86 | ||||||||||||
1986–88 | ||||||||||||
1988–92 | ||||||||||||
1992–2000 | ||||||||||||
2000–02 | ||||||||||||
2002–06 | ||||||||||||
2006–10 | ||||||||||||
Eli Ohana (caretaker) | 2010 | |||||||||||
2010–11 | ||||||||||||
2011–15 | ||||||||||||
Alon Hazan (caretaker) | 2016 | |||||||||||
2016–2017 | ||||||||||||
Alon Hazan (caretaker) | 2018 | |||||||||||
Andi Herzog[16] | 2018–2019 | |||||||||||
Willibald Ruttensteiner[17] [18] | 2020–7 February 2022 | |||||||||||
Gadi Brumer[19] (caretaker) | 17 March 2022 – 29 March 2022 | |||||||||||
Alon Hazan[20] | 8 May 2022 – 27 March 2024 | |||||||||||
23 May 2024 – present |
The following players were called for the friendlies matches, on 8 and 11 June 2024 against Hungary and Belarus; respectively.[21] [22]
Caps and goals are correct as of 7 June 2024, after the match against Hungary.[23] [24] [25] [26]
The following players have also been called up to the Israel squad within the last 12 months. INJ Withdrew due to injury or illness
PRE Preliminary/extended squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension due to either a red card, or two accumulated yellow cards
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to neither injury nor illness issue
U21 Player withdrew from the squad to play for the national under-21 team
See main article: List of Israel international footballers and Israel national football team records and statistics. [27]
Players in bold are still active with Israel.
Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
width=25 | Rank | width=150 | Name | width=50 | Caps | width=50 | Goals | width=100 | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yossi Benayoun | 101 | 23 | 1998–2017 | |||||
2 | Tal Ben Haim | 95 | 2 | 2002–2017 | |||||
3 | 94 | 0 | 1995–2007 | ||||||
4 | 88 | 1 | 1992–2006 | ||||||
Bibras Natcho | 88 | 4 | 2010–2023 | ||||||
6 | Amir Schelach | 85 | 0 | 1992–2001 | |||||
7 | 80 | 17 | 1992–2005 | ||||||
8 | Eyal Berkovic | 78 | 9 | 1992–2004 | |||||
Dudu Aouate | 78 | 0 | 1999–2013 | ||||||
10 | Tal Banin | 77 | 12 | 1990–2003 |
width=25 | Rank | width=150 | Name | width=50 | Goals | width=50 | Caps | width=50 | Ratio | width=100 | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Eran Zahavi | 35 | 74 | 2010–present | |||||||
2 | 24 | 57 | 1964–1977 | ||||||||
3 | 23 | 52 | 1992–1999 | ||||||||
23 | 101 | 1998–2017 | |||||||||
5 | 19 | 45 | 1956–1968 | ||||||||
6 | 17 | 37 | 1992–2001 | ||||||||
17 | 38 | 2011–2019 | |||||||||
17 | 50 | 1984–1997 | |||||||||
17 | 80 | 1992–2005 | |||||||||
10 | 15 | 36 | 1966–1977 | ||||||||
15 | 40 | 2014–2022 | |||||||||
See main article: Israel at the FIFA World Cup.
See also: 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC) and 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC and OFC).
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Squad | Outcome | Confederation | |||||||||||||||
As | As | ||||||||||||||||||
1930 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||
1934 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | Africa/Asia | |||||||||||
1938 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Europe | ||||||||||||
As | As | ||||||||||||||||||
1950 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | Europe | |||||||||||
1954 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||
1958 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | CAF/AFC | ||||||||||||
1962 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 14 | UEFA | ||||||||||||
1966 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | |||||||||||||
1970 | 12th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | AFC/OFC | ||||
1974 | Did not qualify | Zone A Final | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 2 | |||||||||||
1978 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | |||||||||||||
1982 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | UEFA | ||||||||||||
1986 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | OFC | ||||||||||||
1990 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||
1994 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 27 | UEFA | ||||||||||||
1998 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | |||||||||||||
2002 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||||||
2006 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 10 | |||||||||||||
2010 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 10 | |||||||||||||
2014 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 14 | |||||||||||||
2018 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 15 | |||||||||||||
2022 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 21 | |||||||||||||
2026 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||||||
2030 | |||||||||||||||||||
2034 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | Final Round | 130 | 43 | 35 | 52 | 180 | 180 | — |
UEFA European Championship record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Squad | Outcome | |||||||||||||||
1960–1992 | Not a UEFA member | Not a UEFA member | ||||||||||||||||
1996 | Did not qualify | 5th | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 13 | ||||||||||
2000 | Play-offs | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 9 | |||||||||||
2004 | 3rd | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 11 | |||||||||||
2008 | 4th | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 12 | |||||||||||
2012 | 3rd | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 11 | |||||||||||
2016 | 4th | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 14 | |||||||||||
2020 | Play-offs | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 18 | |||||||||||
2024 | Play-offs | 11 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 15 | |||||||||||
2028 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
2032 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total | — | Play-offs | 80 | 32 | 17 | 31 | 124 | 103 |
UEFA Nations League record | |||||||||||||||||||||
League phase | Finals | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Year | Squad | |||||||||||||||||||
2018–19 | C | 1 | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 30th | 2019 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
2020–21 | B | 2 | 2nd | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 25th | 2021 | ||||||||||
2022–23 | B | 2 | 1st | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 17th | 2023 | ||||||||||
2024–25 | A | 2 | To be determined | 2025 | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 17th | Total | — |
See main article: Israel at the Summer Olympics.
See main article: article.
See also: Israel at the 1968 Summer Olympics, Israel at the 1976 Summer Olympics and 1980 Summer Olympics boycott.
Olympic Games record | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | Squad | ||
1952 | Did not enter | |||||||||
1956 | ||||||||||
1960 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
1964 | ||||||||||
1968 | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | Squad | ||
1972 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
1976 | 6th | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | Squad | ||
1980 | Withdrew | |||||||||
1984 | Did not qualify | |||||||||
1988 | ||||||||||
1992–present | Competition played as an Under-23 competition | |||||||||
Total | Quarter-finals | 2/10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 14 | — |
See main article: Israel at the AFC Asian Cup.
See also: 1956 AFC Asian Cup, 1960 AFC Asian Cup, 1964 AFC Asian Cup, 1968 AFC Asian Cup and 1972 AFC Asian Cup.
AFC Asian Cup record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | |
1956 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | Squad | |
1960 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | Squad | |
1964 | Champions | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | Squad | |
1968 | Third place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5 | Squad | |
1972 | Withdrew+ | ||||||||
Total | 1 Title | 13 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 15 | — |
+ Israel qualified as hosts but later withdrew. Thailand replaced them later.
See main article: Israel at the Asian Games.
See also: Israel at the 1958 Asian Games and Israel at the 1974 Asian Games.
Asian Games record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | |
1951 | Did not enter | ||||||||
1954 | |||||||||
1958 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Squad | ||
1962 | Did not enter | ||||||||
1966 | |||||||||
1970 | |||||||||
1974 | Runners-up | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 4 | Squad | |
Total | 2/13 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 7 | – | |
The following is a chart of yearly averages of Israel's FIFA World Ranking.[28]
As an memberAFC Asian Cup
See also
External links