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 significant development is the recall of Liel Abada, who has been in strong form for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer, scoring four goals and providing five assists this season. He 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 initial match in Linz. The team is scheduled to depart for Austria next Sunday, where they will observe Yom Kippur.

Coach Ben Shimon faces challenges in the central defense positions, with players like Itay Rotman and Nikita Stoyanov potentially forming the primary pairing, alongside calls for Raz Shlomo and Edan Nahmias. Another notable inclusion is expected to be captain Eli Dasa, who is currently without a club but is reportedly close to signing with a Dutch team. Despite his club status, Ben Shimon values Dasa's leadership and experience, recalling his strong performances for the national team in past campaigns even when he was not playing for his club.

Several players, estimated to be seven or eight, will arrive in Austria on Wednesday due to their club commitments.