Israel national under-21 football team

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.

 Israel Under-21
AssociationIsrael Football Association
Head coach Nir Levine
CaptainNeta Lavi
Most capsArik Benado (39)[1]
Top scorerAlon Mizrahi (15)[2]
FIFA codeISR
First colours
Second colours
First international
Greece 2–2 Israel
(Greece; 1990)
Biggest win
Israel 6–0 Austria
(Israel)
Biggest defeat
Israel 0–4 Spain
(Israel)
Israel 0–4 Italy
(Israel; 2013)
UEFA U-21 Championship
Appearances2 (first in 2007)
Best resultGroup Stage, 3rd Place

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
Israel national under-21 football team at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
1992Qualifying Stage6320173
1994Qualifying Stage103161716
1996Qualifying Stage103341211
1998Qualifying Stage8521179
2000Qualifying Stage8224613
2002Qualifying Stage84041613
2004Qualifying Stage8314611
2006Qualifying Stage8431117
2007Group Stage511338
2009Qualification Playoffs8521165
2011Qualifying Stage8512188
2013Group Stage311136
2015Qualifying Stage85032215
2017Qualifying Stage10631214
2019TBA------
Total2/1488391834146106

Players

Top Appearances
Rank Player Club(s) Year(s) U-21 Caps
1Arik BenadoMaccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem1992–199539
2Nir SiviliaMaccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Yehuda, Beitar Jerusalem1993–199734
2Shay HoltzmanMaccabi Netanya, Maccabi Haifa, Tzafririm Holon1992–199534
3Dekel KeinanMaccabi Haifa, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Netanya2003–200730
4Alon HalfonMaccabi Netanya, Hapoel Haifa1993–199529
4Tom AlmadonMaccabi Haifa2004–200729
5Ofer TalkerIroni Ashdod, Hapoel Haifa1992–199528
6Ofir KopelMaccabi Haifa1994–199727
7Lior JanMaccabi Tel Aviv2006–200826
8Moshe OhayonF.C. Ashdod2001–200524

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
1Alon MizrahiBnei Yehuda1992–199315
2Shay HoltzmanMaccabi Netanya, Maccabi Haifa, Tzafririm Holon1992–199514
3Moanes DabourMaccabi Tel Aviv, Grasshopper2011–201413
4Nir SiviliaMaccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Yehuda, Beitar Jerusalem1993–199712
5Ben SaharChelsea, Espanyol2007–20108
5Maor BuzagloMaccabi Haifa, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Tel Aviv2007–20108
6Eli AbarbanelHapoel Petah Tikva1994–19997
6Amir TurgemanIroni Ashdod1992–19937

Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.

2021 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

2021 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Group 6
Main article: 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 6
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Spain 5 4 1 0 9 1 +8 13 Final tournament — 13 Oct TBD 3–0 2–0 8 Oct
2  Israel 4 2 2 0 6 3 +3 8 Final tournament if among five best runners-up 1–1 — 8 Sep TBD 0–0 3–1
3  Kazakhstan 5 2 1 2 7 6 +1 7[lower-alpha 1] 0–1 1–2 — 8 Oct 3 Sep 13 Oct
4  North Macedonia 4 2 1 1 10 6 +4 7[lower-alpha 1] 8 Sep TBD 1–1 — 13 Oct 7–1
5  Montenegro 6 1 1 4 5 8 −3 4 0–2 8 Oct 1–2 1–2 — 3–0
6  Faroe Islands 4 0 0 4 3 16 −13 0 TBD 2 Sep 1–3 TBD TBD —
Updated to match(es) played on 19 November 2019. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. Tied on head-to-head points (1), goal difference (0), goals scored (1). Ranked on head-to-head away goals: Kazakhstan 1, North Macedonia 0.

Coaching staff
Position Name
Manager Marco Balbul
Assistant Manager Ofer Fabian
Assistant Manager Alon Hazan
Goalkeeper Coach Nir Davidovich
Fitness Coach Yossi Kakun

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Montenegro on 14 November 2019.

  • Caps and goals as of 15 October 2019.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Assaf Tzur (1998-08-28) 28 August 1998 7 0 Hapoel Ra'anana
23 1GK Daniel Peretz (2000-07-10) 10 July 2000 0 0 Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam
1GK Netanel Daloya (1998-07-14) 14 July 1998 0 0 Beitar Jerusalem
2 2DF Danny Gruper (1999-03-16) 16 March 1999 3 0 Hapoel Tel Aviv
3 2DF Omri Luzon (1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 1 0 Hapoel Rishon LeZion
5 2DF Raz Shlomo (1999-08-13) 13 August 1999 0 0 Hapoel Tel Aviv
12 2DF Yahav Gurfinkel (1998-06-27) 27 June 1998 7 0 Hapoel Hadera
15 2DF Ofri Arad (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 7 2 Maccabi Haifa
21 2DF Amit Cohen (1998-11-21) 21 November 1998 5 0 Hapoel Ra'anana
2DF Noam Cohen (1999-01-06) 6 January 1999 3 0 Sektzia Nes Tziona
2DF Gil Cohen (2000-11-08) 8 November 2000 2 0 F.C. Ashdod
4 3MF Hamoudi Kna'an (2000-01-14) 14 January 2000 0 0 F.C. Ashdod
6 3MF Samuel Broun (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 3 0 Ironi Kiryat Shmona
7 3MF Eden Karzev (2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 6 0 Ironi Kiryat Shmona
8 3MF Mohammad Abu Fani (1998-04-27) 27 April 1998 5 0 Hapoel Hadera
11 3MF Or Dasa (1998-09-20) 20 September 1998 11 1 Hapoel Ra'anana
14 3MF Tomer Yosefi (1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 5 1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva
16 3MF Omer Lakou (1998-02-07) 7 February 1998 7 0 Ironi Kiryat Shmona
22 3MF Shay Elias (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999 1 0 Sektzia Nes Tziona
9 4FW Tai Baribo (1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 6 2 Maccabi Petah Tikva
10 4FW Eylon Almog (1999-01-08) 8 January 1999 6 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
19 4FW Yoav Tomer (1998-01-17) 17 January 1998 1 0 Hapoel Ra'anana
20 4FW Yonas Malede (1999-11-14) 14 November 1999 3 1 Maccabi Netanya

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 Haviv Ohayon (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 2 0 Hapoel Hadera v.  Georgia, 26 March 2019
GK Omer Hanin (1998-08-17) 17 August 1998 0 0 Mainz 05 v.  Kazakhstan, 10 September 2019
GK Omer Katz (1998-04-21) 21 April 1998 0 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv v.  Kazakhstan, 10 September 2019
DF Manamto Asefa (1998-11-19) 19 November 1998 2 0 F.C. Ashdod v.  Slovenia, 31 May 2018
DF Yarin Peretz (1998-07-17) 17 July 1998 2 0 Hapoel Tel Aviv v.  Kazakhstan, 10 September 2019
DF Fadi Najar (1998-05-30) 30 May 1998 1 0 Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam v.  Georgia, 26 March 2019
DF Yonatan Levi (1998-01-02) 2 January 1998 2 0 Maccabi Haifa v.  Faroe Islands, 14 October 2019
MF Ilay Elmkies (2000-03-10) 10 March 2000 1 0 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v.  Kazakhstan, 10 September 2019
MF Ben Savir (1998-03-05) 5 March 1998 4 0 Hapoel Ra'anana v.  Faroe Islands, 14 October 2019
MF Shay Golan (1998-01-17) 17 January 1998 3 0 Ironi Kiryat Shmona v.  Faroe Islands, 14 October 2019
FW Manor Solomon (1999-07-24) 24 July 1999 3 0 Shakhtar Donetsk v.  Slovenia, 31 May 2018
FW Osama Khalaila (1998-04-06) 6 April 1998 3 0 Bnei Sakhnin v.  Kazakhstan, 10 September 2019
FW Ron Ashkenazi (1998-01-15) 15 January 1998 3 0 Maccabi Netanya v.  Faroe Islands, 14 October 2019
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See also

References
  1. http://football.org.il/NationalTeam/Pages/NationalTeamAppearance.aspx?NATIONAL_TEAM_ID=943&PAGE_NUM=1
  2. http://football.org.il/NationalTeam/Pages/NationalTeamCaptivate.aspx?NATIONAL_TEAM_ID=943&PAGE_NUM=1
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