Israel national football team

Infobox National football team
Name = Israel
Badge = Israel football association new.jpg
Badge_size = 100px
FIFA Trigramme = ISR
Nickname = The Whites - Blues
Association = IFA
Confederation = UEFA (Europe)
Coach = Flagicon|Israel Dror Kashtan (2006-)
Captain = Yossi Benayoun
Most caps = Arik Benado (95)
Top scorer = Mordechai Spiegler (32)
Home Stadium = Ramat Gan Stadium
FIFA Rank = 16 |1st ranking date = August 1993
FIFA max = 16
FIFA max date = October 2008
FIFA min = 71
FIFA min date = September 1993
Elo Rank = 32
Elo max = 23
Elo max date = 1976
Elo min = 73
Elo min date = Feb 1968

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First game = fb|Egypt|1922 7 - 1 Palestine/Eretz Israel flagicon|Palestine|Mandate (Cairo, Egypt; March 16, 1934)
Largest win = Flagicon|Israel Israel 9 - 0 fb-rt|Chinese Taipei (Wellington, New Zealand; March 23, 1988)
Largest loss = fb|Egypt|1922 7 - 1 Palestine/Eretz Israel flagicon|Palestine|Mandate (Cairo, Egypt; March 16, 1934)
World cup apps = 1
World cup first = 1970
World cup best = Round 1, 1970
Regional name = European Championship
Regional cup apps = 0
Regional cup first = -
Regional cup best = -
2ndRegional name = Asian Championship
2ndRegional cup apps = 4
2ndRegional cup first = 1956
2ndRegional cup best = Winners, 1964

The Israeli National Football Team ( _he. נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל) is the national football team of Israel and is controlled by the Israel Football Association.

The Israel Football Association (IFA) was founded under the name "Palestine Football Association" (PFA) in 1928, 20 years before the establishment of the state of Israel at the end of the British Mandate of Palestine. The PFA was accepted as a full member of FIFA in 1929. The PFA first dealt with local leagues, but later also managed the national team that was created to participate in the World Cup qualifications (participating in 1934 and 1938 as the Palestine/Eretz Yisrael national team).

Israel has taken part in three different continents: Asia, Europe and Oceania in the Football World Cup qualifiers, before settling in Europe as a member of UEFA in 1994.

The Israeli side qualified for their only FIFA World Cup to date in 1970.

History

Before independence

Palestine played its first official game in 1934 in the world cup qualifiers losing 1-7 to Egypt. The team's first goal ever was scored by Avraham Nudelmann. Upon creation of the State of Israel in 1948, IFA became the official association of the new state. The Israel national team's first game as an independent state was on September 26, 1948, against the USA (result: 1-3 to the USA).

Asian history

Israel initially competed in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), although due to their ongoing geopolitical situation many Asian nations often refused to compete against Israel. Both this, and their geographical proximity to Europe, meant that they mainly competed in European (UEFA) or Oceanian (OFC) World Cup qualifying tournaments. In 1964 Israel hosted and won the Asian Nations Cup. In 1968 Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. In 1970 Israel qualified for their first and only World Cup, via Oceania, but only got two points after draws with Sweden and finalist Italy and a loss to Uruguay.

In 1976, Israel went to their second Olympic Games and lost in the quarter-finals again, this time against Brazil. In 1972 and 1977 they attempted World Cup qualification as part of Asia, which both times ended in failure.

Years in exile

In 1974, Israel had left the AFC as their position within it became untenable.clarifyme During the 1980s they played their majority of matches against European teams, and competed in the European leg of qualification for the 1982 World Cup. For the next two tournaments they entered the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification groups and in 1989, Israel made it to the playoffs of WC Italy 1990 to play against Colombia, who qualified from the South American group, but lost (1-0, 0-0).

European history

In 1991 Israeli clubs began participating in European club competitions and Israel returned to the European leg of World Cup qualifying in 1992, notably winning 3-2 in Paris against France in 1993. In 1994, Israel received full UEFA membership, twenty years since they had left Asia. [ [http://www.israel-football.org.il/english/history/index.asp The Israel FA Background] ] Within Europe, Israel have been a relatively minor nation, though with some successes. In 1999, Israel made it to the playoffs of Euro 2000, but was beaten by Denmark.

In 2006 World Cup qualifying, Israel finished third in European zone Group Four behind France and Switzerland despite being unbeaten in their 10 matches after four wins and six draws, and failed to qualify for the finals. Coach Avraham Grant announced his resignation on 26 October 2005. After the end of his contract he was succeeded by Dror Kashtan. In UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, Israel finished fourth in group E, behind Croatia, Russia and England. The 3-4 home loss to Croatia was the first loss after 13 consecutive official games and 9 home games without a loss. Although Israel failed to qualify, Israel advanced in the world ranking, which led Israel to pot 2 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification draw. The continued presence of the Israeli Football Association in UEFA was a precedent cited by Australia to justify its transfer from Oceania to the Asian Football Federation.

Competition history

FIFA World Cup record

=FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualification=

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 2
expanded = yes
fixtures = yes
tiebreakers =

Top scorers

Results against other national teams

External links

* [http://www.israel-football.org.il The Israel Football Association] (official)
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/isra-intres-a.html Israel National Team - List of "A" Games]

Notes

Titles