Under-21 Soccer: Israel surprisingly holds off Italians in first leg

Ben-Haim, defense star in 0-0 draw; next up is Wednesday's match at Bloomfield.

By JEREMY LAST
tal ben-haim 88 (photo credit: )
tal ben-haim 88
(photo credit: )
Israel's Under-21 team put in an impressively solid defensive performance to hold Italy to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of its European Championship playoff in Ancona on Saturday and set up a mouth-watering return leg at Bloomfield. Wednesday's second game will bring back memories of two years ago, when a Ben Sahar-inspired Israel team held France 1-1 away before winning 1-0 in front of an ecstatic packed house in Herzliya to qualify for its first Under-21 European Championship. It won't be easy for the class of 2008, especially as that 2006 team went into the second match with the benefit of an away goal. But coach Motti Ivanir was suitably satisfied with his players after seeing them soak up some intense Italian pressure in both the first and last 15 minutes of the match. "It is not finished yet but it is not a bad result," Ivanir told Sport5. "The players gave everything on the field and we are still alive and in the picture." Hopes had not been high for Israel heading into Saturday's game. The Italian squad boasted an embarrassment of riches, from Juventus midfielder Sebastien Giovinco to Fiorentina's Pablo Osvaldo, while Israel's top players make a living at teams like Maccabi Petah Tikva and Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Indeed, Giovinco starred for the home side, causing all sorts of problems for the Israeli defenders, especially in the opening flourish in the first 10 minutes, when Italy came close to scoring on more than one occasion. But Israel's youngsters held their own in defense and more than matched their more illustrious opponents in the center of the park. Captain Lior Jan proved to be a rock in the center of the back four, Maccabi Netanya's Almog Cohen was commanding in midfield and goalkeeper Ohad Levita repaid Ivanir's faith in him with a number of crucial saves. Osvaldo is becoming known as the new Gabriel Batistuta as he was born in Argentina, has dual citizenship and plays Fiorentina. But while he got into some good positions, Osvaldo lacked the clinical finishing touch of "Batigol". His most dangerous opportunity came seven minutes from the end when he found himself a few meters out with the ball at his feet, only to see Levita make a superb last-gasp stop. The Italian attacking flair was the story of the game, with Israel limited to long rang free kicks which hardly bothered Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consigli. But as Israel held off its opposition, the visiting side grew in stature and pushed up towards the end of the first half and the middle of the second. Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi said: "We played well, not brilliantly. We created a number of chances but didn't score. I think we did what we had to. We dominated the game except for the second part of the first half. "Unfortunately a lot of players will be missing [Giovinco, Marchisio and Daniele Dessena through suspension] for the return leg, but we hope to have Mario Balotelli [absent here because of flu] back." The biggest disappointment for Ivanir will be the performance of Barcelona B striker Gai Assulin, who showed some touches of skill but failed to live up to his billing as the most promising young Israeli player for many years. Substitute Tal Ben-Haim, however, illustrated why he has already attracted the attention of the local media when he came on in the second half, terrorizing the Italian defenders with his speed down the byline. Ben-Haim, who plays for Maccabi Petah Tikva, and is not to be confused with the Manchester City center back, could well be crucial to hopes on Wednesday. But Ivanir will know that he will also need to inspire Assulin to turn on the style and grab a goal, or two. "The game in Israel will be very different tactically for the Italians, and we need to do even better," Ivanir concluded. "This is good for Israel and I hope Bloomfield will be full. It is what the players deserve."