Israel Under-21 Handball Team Opens European Championship Aiming for Top 14 Finish

The Israeli Under-21 handball team is set to begin its campaign at the European Championship tomorrow in Cluj and Turda, northern Romania. The team’s declared goal is to finish among the top 14 teams, which would secure their first-ever qualification for the upcoming World Championship. The squad departed for Romania last night, missing one of its key players, Guy Resh Arman, who will play in Germany next season. Despite this, the team is confident after strong performances in preparatory matches, including two wins against Greece, another tournament participant.

Israel will face the reigning European champions Sweden at 12:00 on Wednesday, Bosnia at the same time on Thursday, and the host nation Romania at 17:00 on Saturday. For the first time, all championship matches will be broadcast on Sport Channel. Coach Chen Pomerantz expressed optimism about the team’s preparation, noting the players’ good fitness and significant progress over the past year and a half. He acknowledged the challenge of competing against strong opponents but emphasized the team’s potential to perform well and gain valuable experience.

Regarding the group stage, Pomerantz described it as tough, especially facing Sweden, but believes the team can surprise in their opening match and build confidence. He highlighted the importance of the game against Bosnia, a team with quality players, and the challenge of playing Romania on their home turf. Pomerantz stated that the primary objective is to qualify for the World Championship, but if circumstances align, the team could aim even higher. He stressed the importance of individual player development and taking the tournament one game at a time.

The Israeli roster includes Alon Rotzvi, Yehonatan Benshtrit, Eitan Elbaz, Liam Mader, Itamar Goldstein, Loic Bexou, Tal Galili, Yuval Haber, captain Tal Ekstein, Yonatan Pelech, Noy Feirman, Ido Chernovilski, Ben Gross, Asaf Sharon (captain), Idan Mana, Ori Cohen, Adi Cohen, and Ariel Sheharvani. The coaching staff features head coach Chen Pomerantz, assistant coach Evitar Gevaon, goalkeeper coach Pedro Silva, physiotherapist Eyal Amar, psychologist Roy Yablonchik, equipment manager Dor Moshe, and delegation head Gilad Natan.