Israel National Football Team Names Starting Lineup for Nations League Opener

Israel's national football team coach Ran Ben Shimon has announced the starting eleven for their UEFA Nations League opener against Austria in Linz. The match, which marks the beginning of a new campaign and hopes for the team, is scheduled for Thursday, just before the Sukkot holiday. All tickets for the game have been sold, with prices ranging from 25 to 75 euros.

Ben Shimon has declared that the team's objective is no longer solely about building a new generation or a process, but rather about performance in this campaign, which he acknowledges will be a test for him as well. The announced starting lineup features Daniel Peretz in goal, with Guy Mizrahi, Nikita Stoyanov, Idan Nachmias, and Roy Revivo in defense. The midfield will consist of Eliel Peretz, Dor Peretz, and Oscar Gloukh, while Manor Solomon, Anan Khalaili, and Sayed Abu Farhi will lead the attack. Sayed Abu Farhi is set to start in the forward position.

Two players, Moanes Dabur and Omri Gandelman, were ruled out due to injury. Moanes Dabur, a midfielder for Red Star Belgrade, is suffering from a minor groin tear and has been released from the squad, as has Omri Gandelman from Maccabi Netanya. Despite these absences, Ben Shimon has emphasized that the remaining players are the best available and has urged them to focus on the game without making excuses.

Security measures have been heightened around the team's hotel in Linz due to its proximity to a Muslim garden and numerous churches, requiring additional local police presence. However, the overall atmosphere is reported to be positive, with planned protests located at the other end of the city and far from the stadium. Sniffer dogs and a helicopter will be present during and after the match.

There has been tension with the Irish football association, with their chairman Willy Ruttensteiner attending the match. The Israeli Football Association chairman sent a strong letter to UEFA regarding sharp statements made by the Irish. The Irish have also raised a complaint about Israeli delegation members booking rooms at the same hotel, which an Israeli official dismissed as them "just looking for headlines and fights."

Ben Shimon has instructed his players to concentrate solely on Austria and ignore the situation with Ireland. Some Israeli players, particularly those from the Arab community, have opted for silence in interviews due to concerns that any reaction could escalate tensions. Manor Solomon will wear the captain's armband, as regular captain Eli Dasa will not be starting.