Israel National Football Team Recalls Liel Abada for Nations League Matches

Israel's national football team coach Ran Ben Shimon is set to announce his squad on Thursday for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Austria, Kosovo, and two games against Northern Ireland. A key development is the return of Liel Abada, who has been in strong form for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Abada has scored four goals and provided five assists this season and will join fellow MLS player Idan Toklomati, who has eight goals, in flying from the US to Austria.

Both Abada and Toklomati, along with Tai Baribo and Dor Turgeman, are expected to join the squad for their first training session on Wednesday, just one day before the first match in Linz. The coaching staff faces challenges in selecting center-backs, with Itay Rotman and Nikita Stoyanoff likely to be the primary pairing, potentially alongside Raz Shlomo and Edan Nahmias.

Captain Eli Dasa, currently without a club but reportedly close to signing with a Dutch team, is also expected to be called up. Ben Shimon views Dasa as a crucial leader in the locker room and a mentor for younger players, recalling his strong performances for the national team even when he was not playing for his club. The team is scheduled to fly to Austria next Sunday, where they will observe the Yom Kippur holiday. Several players are expected to arrive late, on Wednesday.