Israel Soccer Team Prepares for Nations League Opener Against Austria

The Israeli national soccer team is in its final preparations for its opening match in the UEFA Nations League against Austria, scheduled for Thursday evening in Linz. Coach Ran Ben Shimon will hold his first training session with a full squad, including players arriving from the United States. Several key Israeli players, including Tai Baribo, Liel Abada, and Idan Toklomati, have joined the team, along with Dor Turgeman and Ilai Feingold who arrived on a separate flight. Ben Shimon plans to meet with the forwards who play in the U.S. to assess their condition after their flights and discuss potential jet lag, with some having taken sleeping pills on the advice of team doctor Udi Kaufman. The coach will decide on the starting forward based on this conversation, considering options like Dor Turgeman, Tai Baribo who is in good form, or Seyd Abu Farhi.

In defense, a decision will be made after the final training session regarding who will start: Idan Nachmias, who has recovered from an injury, or Raz Shlomo. The preference is for a player from Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the back four. Meanwhile, Israeli Football Association chairman Shino Zuarz, his deputy Moran Meiri, and CEO Yariv Tupper will meet with senior Austrian Football Association officials. They are also scheduled to meet with Willy Ruttensteiner and Andy Herzog, former coaches of the Israeli national team, with Ruttensteiner having recently served as a professional advisor to the chairman.

Austrian media appear to be underestimating Israel's chances in the match, noting Israel's defensive absences and seemingly unconcerned by the absence of their own key players like Christoph Baumgartner, Marcel Sabitzer, David Alaba, and Marko Arnautović. The Austrians will train and hold their press conference an hour and a half away from the stadium, while the Israeli team will train at the venue on Wednesday evening. Less than 2,000 tickets remain for the match, despite the Austrians' confidence that the stadium will be full.