Ben Shimon Decides on Squad Reduction Ahead of Estonia Match
National Team Prepares for Crucial Match
With only 6,000 fans expected to attend, half of the stadium’s capacity, the Israel national football team is set to take the field against Estonia in Tallinn today (Friday, 21:45, live on SPORT5) as they aim to secure three additional points. Israel, ranked 43 spots higher than their oppstartnts in the FIFA rankings, is looking to capitalize on this match.
Coach’s Strategic Approach
National team coach Ran Ben Shimon adopts a relaxed approach in his management style, allowing players the freedom to alleviate pressure. In a video session held yesterday, the focus was on understanding Estonia’s formation and emphasizing the need for patient ball distribution.
Traveling to Tallinn with a broad squad, Ben Shimon needed to exclude two players from participation, ultimately deciding to cut Itamar Noy and Timothy Muzi from the lineup.
Surprising Decisions in Player Selection
A notable point of contention arose regarding Ben Shimon’s decision to start Elial Peretz over the standout player of the season, Dor Peretz. This chostart surprised the team. Ben Shimon communicated with the Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder prior to the match, explaining that while he, Anan Hlaili, and Mahmud Jabber would play no matter the game’s outcome, “Elial is more balanced in game management and defensively stronger compared to Dor, who prefers to make runs from deep.”
It is worth noting that due to the recent Eid al-Adha celebrations, Jabber and Hlaili had observed fasting the day before the match.
Game Tactics and Player Concerns
There were concerns within the team about the pitch conditions at the stadium, specifically the long grass that could hinder their performance. Addressing these concerns, Ben Shimon told the players to refrain from discussing external factors like rain, the field, or the referee, insisting, “Our only focus is to win this match.”
Football Association chairman Shino Zohar is in Estonia and plans to share a Sabbath meal with the players following the game. After this match, the team will travel to Hungary, with new additions Lior Casa, Amir Ganach, and Adi Yona joining the squad due to the absence of key players including Manor Solomon and Dor Peretz for the friendly against Slovakia.
Expected Lineup
The expected starting eleven for the match includes: Daniel Peretz, Eli Dasa, Idan Nahmias, Raz Shlomo, Roy Raviv, Muhammad Abu Fani, Elial Peretz, Oscar Gluch, Manor Solomon, Dan Biton, and Dor Turgeman