Former Israeli Soccer Stars Join National Team Project, Emphasize Focus on Sport

Former Israeli national soccer team players Zahy Armeli and Yaron Parselani joined the Israeli team in Hungary on Sunday as part of a "Legends Project." Both players, who previously represented Israel, expressed their excitement about reconnecting with the national team.

Armeli, who scored ten goals in 28 appearances for Israel, stated, "This is something I never dreamed of. After football and my appearances for the national team, I didn't think I would be involved with them again." He thanked the Football Association and Ziv Solomon, who is responsible for the project.

Parselani, who played 20 times for Israel, recalled a memorable match against Australia that ended in a draw, leading to a game against Colombia. He also humorously mentioned an incident where an opponent stepped on his head, resulting in the opponent's red card.

Both players acknowledged the current geopolitical climate but aligned with the national team's stance of keeping politics separate from the sport. Armeli shared an anecdote from 1986 in Australia, where he changed his name to "Zohar Armeli" when visiting a rabbi in a religious school to show respect, illustrating his belief that the field is only for football.

Parselani emphasized that the national team represents a legacy and that their presence signifies its continued importance. He stated, "There is a mission for the national team today more than anything else, and we are all around it. We will convince after the first game. We will give an answer on the field to everything happening around."

Armeli added, "This mess and politics don't interest me; we need to win on the field. For me, not shaking hands or exchanging flags is wrong because it only hinders sports and the advancement of the national teams and must not happen. I want the national team to advance and win, regardless of the score, even with an own goal. We must move forward and stop dwelling on the past. There is a generation that can do it. I am sure the players learned from the mistakes against Austria, and it's not the end of the world, but just one game."

Parselani, though he never scored for Israel, witnessed Armeli score against Ireland in 1984, which was also Eli Ohana's debut for the national team. Armeli fondly remembered his goal, describing it as a "rocket-like header" outside the box.