The Last Word: Israelis are abroad, but not always playing

Local soccer is at a low ebb and there is no prospect of change on the horizon.

By JEREMY LAST
jeremy last 88 (photo credit: )
jeremy last 88
(photo credit: )
The poor performances of Israeli teams in European competition this season have proven what has been clear for a while - our local soccer league is one of the least impressive in Europe, and it appears to be getting even worse. Two-time champion Betar Jerusalem was embarrassed in its 5-0 second-leg defeat by Wisla Krakow in a Champions League qualifier in August while coach Lothar Matthaus couldn't inspire his Maccabi Netanya team to beat Bulgarian minnows Cherno More in the UEFA Cup qualifiers. To top it off, last week Hapoel Tel Aviv was way off the pace in its UEFA Cup first round defeat to French side Saint Etienne. Whether you blame it on the lack of professionalism, bad quality coaching, poor facilities or lack of proper youth systems, local soccer is at a low ebb and there is no prospect of change on the horizon. So it is no surprise that so many Israeli players aspire to play abroad, to find an opportunity to test their skills in a more professional environment and work under high-level coaches. Dror Kashtan's Israel squad for the upcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Latvia illustrates just how far local players have come in realizing their dreams of playing in Europe. Amazingly, there are enough foreign-based stars on the national squad to make up an entire first eleven (although it would have to play in a strange 2-4-4 formation unless two of the midfielders pull back into defense). Surely this is a situation to celebrate. The experience these player have gained working abroad should only prove beneficial for the national team, both because it will improve their skills, while also allowing them to influence the other Israel-based players back home. Well, that would be the case were the Israelis actually playing for their foreign clubs rather than warming the substitutes bench. Of the 11 ex-pats in Europe, only four have managed to hold down a first team place. Former Betar Jerusalem midfield general Gal Alberman has been a significant player at Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, ex-Hapoel Tel Aviv striker Elyaniv Barda is a mainstay of the KRC Genk team and has already scored two goals, while Omer Golan and Avi Strul are playing regularly for another Belgian side, KSC Lokeren. Unfortunately, aside from Alberman, it's the other seven Israelis playing abroad who are considered the core of Kashtan's team. Former Chelsea defender Tal Ben-Haim started well at Manchester City in England but has only played three times in the league for the new billionaire blues. Israel captain Yossi Benayoun has played six times for English Premier League title-challengers Liverpool but is becoming a perennial sub of late, averaging only 35.7 minutes a game. And it only gets worse. Striker Roberto Colautti has managed zero goals in three games for Monchengladbach, averaging just over ten minutes a game, while Portsmouth's Ben Sahar, Bolton defender Tamir Cohen and Deportivo La Couna goalkeepers Dudu Awat haven't played a minute for their teams in the league. This could well prove a crucial factor in Israel's bid for a World Cup appearance. Skill and training is one thing but nothing can create confidence and comfort on the pitch better than real playing time. Kashtan is never going to leave stars like Benayoun and Ben-Haim on the bench, even though they very well may not be match fit and an injury to Maccabi Haifa's in-form 'keeper Nir Davidovitch has forced Awat into the number one jersey. On Wednesday, while the majority of Israelis were preoccupied by Yom Kippur preparations, the world governing body of soccer released its latest ranking list of national teams. Impressively, Israel has moved up another three places, to No. 16, in FIFA's list - the highest ever position in the history of the state. While the ranking system has been heavily criticized over the years, with some claiming it takes in too much consideration for results from previous years, there is no doubt this is an achievement which should be lauded. Israel has improved in recent years, inching closer to that all-elusive first major tournament appearance since the 1970 World Cup finals. However, a home draw with Switzerland and an away win at Moldova will not transform this team into world beaters, and the players will need to be at the top of their game to get the expected six points from away trips to Luxembourg and Riga. These foreign-based players may well see their minutes limited on the international stage as well as at their clubs if Israel is to make it to an historic second World Cup finals.