Israel National Team Squad Decisions Loom Ahead of Kosovo Match
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Israel's national football team coach Ran Ben Shimon is reconsidering his lineup for the upcoming match against Kosovo due to a thigh injury to defender Roy Rabivo. Rabivo's potential absence creates uncertainty in the defense and midfield, with players like Elie Dasa, Guy Mizrahi, Gabi Kanyukovsky, Eitan Azulai, Omri Gandelman, Dor Peretz, and Idan Toklomati vying for starting spots. The team landed in Kosovo on Tuesday evening and will prepare for the difficult match.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Roy Rabivo's thigh injury forces Israel's coach to rethink defensive and midfield lineups for Kosovo match.
- Liel Abada may shift to left-back, creating a right-back competition between Elie Dasa and Guy Mizrahi.
- Midfield selection is debated between Eitan Azulai and Gabi Kanyukovsky, with Azulai currently favored.
- Omri Gandelman's starting status is uncertain, potentially impacting Dor Peretz and Idan Toklomati's roles.
- Israel faces a "very strong team" in Kosovo in a "very difficult" away game on Saturday.
Israel national team coach Ran Ben Shimon faces lineup dilemmas ahead of Saturday's match against Kosovo, particularly due to a thigh injury sustained by defender Roy Rabivo. Rabivo's potential absence from the starting lineup or even the squad could force a reshuffling of the defense, which was previously set with three center-backs, Liel Abada on the right, and Rabivo on the left. If Rabivo cannot play, Abada would likely shift to the left flank, leaving Ben Shimon to choose between Elie Dasa and Guy Mizrahi for the right-back position.
Rabivo had been tasked with marking Kosovo's star player, Edon Zhegrova, who plays for Juventus. Zhegrova, who came on as a substitute in Kosovo's previous match against Hungary, is considered a key player whose marking will require significant effort. "He is one of Kosovo's key players and whoever marks him will have to work very hard," team sources stated.
In midfield, Ben Shimon has been experimenting with a pairing of Niv Yosua and Eitan Azulai, the original plan. However, Gabi Kanyukovsky's strong performance in training this week has put him in contention for Azulai's spot. Despite Kanyukovsky's form, Azulai was seen in the starting lineup during the morning training session, suggesting he may be favored.
Another significant unresolved question is whether Omri Gandelman will start. If he does not, Dor Peretz is expected to play as a false nine. However, training indicated that Idan Toklomati might start as a natural striker with Peretz playing behind him, which would exclude Gandelman from the starting eleven.
The team acknowledges the challenge ahead, with sources describing Kosovo as a "very strong team" and the away game as "very difficult." Upon arrival in Kosovo on Tuesday evening, the team will check into a hotel in Pristina and will hold their final training session and press conference on Wednesday morning before the match.
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