Int'l Soccer: Kashtan wants another 3 points in Riga

Israel aiming for third successive road win in World Cup qualifiers against Latvia Wednesday.

By ALLON SINAI
kashtan 298 88 (photo credit: )
kashtan 298 88
(photo credit: )
Israel will look to end the first stage of its 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign on a high when it visits Latvia in Riga on Wednesday evening. A victory will ensure the national team has picked up 10 of a possible 12 points from its first four qualifiers, and keep it in the chase for first position in Group 2 when it faces Greece twice over four days in its next round of qualifiers in just under six months time. "This is one of our most important matches of the campaign," coach Dror Kashtan said on Tuesday. "This will be our third straight road match and winning away from home is extremely significant." After drawing 2-2 with Switzerland in its first qualifier in Ramat Gam last month, Israel got the better of both Moldova and Luxembourg on the road, despite playing quite poorly. Kashtan believes, however, that this team has something special about it, which allows it to get the result it needs even when it's not playing at its best. "There is a very good atmosphere among the players and a real feel of commitment," he said. "Nobody acts like a star and all the players have their feet well grounded on earth. These aspects are important to creating a successful team." Goalkeeper Dudu Awat, who will be making his 39th appearance on Wednesday, echoed the same sentiment. "Four-five years ago there were stars on the team," the the out-of-favor Deportivo La Coruna 'keeper said said. "Today we don't have stars, but excellent players who give their all. It's really fun to be part of this squad." Kashtan is expected to start with the same lineup which played in Luxembourg on Saturday. Defender Dekel Keinan has recovered from his nose injury and captain Yossi Benayoun will play despite the pain in his ankle, which required a hospital visit on Monday. "Yossi will play tomorrow. He will receive injections if he'll need to," Kashtan said unequivocally, quashing incessant rumors in the Israeli media over the past few days that Maccabi Tel Aviv's Maor Buzaglo would replace Benayoun in the starting 11. Latvia reached Euro 2004, but has struggled ever since. In 2006 World Cup qualifying the team only finished fifth in its group, winning four, drawing three and losing five of its matches. The team ended its Euro 2008 qualifying group in fifth place as well, losing eight of its 12 qualifiers. At the start of its current qualifying campaign Latvia claimed a 2-1 win over Moldova on the road, but lost its next qualifier at home to Greece and went down 2-1 to Switzerland in St. Gallen on Saturday. Almost all of the squad plays in the Latvian league, with Celta Vigo striker Maris Verpakovskis the side's biggest star. Verpakovskis has been a doubt for Wednesday's match, but is still expected to play up front, with QPR's Kaspars Gorkss the most notable name in the Latvian defense. "This is our last chance. We can't lose this match, because if we do our hopes of qualifying are over," Latvia coach Aleksandrs Starkovs said ahead of the match. "Israel is a tough opponent, but we must win." Kashtan knows his side must also return home with all three points and is doing all he can to make sure the players will be ready for their opponents. "The players watched videos of the Latvians twice on Tuesday and will see another video on Wednesday," he said. "We're studying their play as we know that if we win here any result in Wednesday's match between Greece and Switzerland will work in our advantage."