Dor Peretz Set to Return to Striker Role for Israel National Team

The Israeli national football team is preparing for an extensive international break featuring four matches against Austria, Kosovo, and Ireland twice. Ahead of the upcoming game against Austria, coach Ran Ben Shimon is reportedly planning to deploy Dor Peretz as a striker. This tactical shift is influenced by concerns over the availability of the team's primary strikers, Dor Turgeman, Tai Baribo, and Idan Toklomati, who are expected to arrive from the United States only a day before the match after a long flight, potentially suffering from jet lag.

Furthermore, Ben Shimon is keen to keep Peretz in the lineup and wants to accommodate star player Oscar Gloukh, who plays as an attacking midfielder. By positioning Peretz upfront, Ben Shimon aims to have both key players on the field simultaneously. Peretz has previously played as a false nine, notably scoring twice in a 5-4 loss against Italy.

The national team squad is expected to be announced soon, with Noam Steifman reportedly set to receive a call-up. Yarin Levi and Eitan Azulay are also anticipated to join the team, though Azulay will miss the Austria match due to his wedding on September 23rd. Gabi Kanyukovsky will also be unavailable for the Austria game because of his brother's wedding. Midfielder Neta Lavi will be absent due to injury.