Kashtan calls up Hapoel's Bondarv

Israel coach Dror Kashtan has called defender Dani Bondarv into his 24-man squad for the crucial UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group E games against England and Estonia at the end of the month.

First call-up
The 20-year-old Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC centre-back has made five UEFA Cup appearances this season, helping his club to reach the Round of 32 before their elimination by Rangers FC, and has now been rewarded with a first inclusion in his country's senior squad. His fellow Hapoel defender Ygal Antebi, who won the last of his nine caps in September 2004, is back in the party having missed only three league games all year as the club challenge for the Israeli Premier League title.

Suspended duo
Kashtan's side are fifth in Group E having taken seven points from their first four qualifying fixtures, and will be without Bolton Wanderers FC midfielder Idan Tal and Maccabi Haifa FC striker Roberto Colautti through suspension for the game against England in Tel-Aviv on 24 March. Both are included in the squad as they are eligible for the Estonia game, also at the Ramat Gan Stadium, four days later. Strikers Toto Tamuz, of Beitar Jerusalem FC, and Chelsea FC's Ben Sahar - who made his debut in last month's friendly against Ukraine - retain their places.

Israel squad
Goalkeepers: Dudu Awat (RC Deportivo La Coruña), Shavit Elimelech (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Nir Davidovich (Maccabi Haifa FC).

Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Bolton Wanderers FC), Arik Benado (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Shimon Gershon (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Yoav Ziv (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Tomer Ben-Yosef (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Yuval Shpungin (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Ygal Antebi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Dani Bodarv (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC).

Midfielders: Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United FC), Walid Badir (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Salim Toema (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Gal Alberman (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Omer Golan (Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC), Idan Tal (Bolton Wanderers FC).

Forwards: Elyaniv Barda (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Amit Ben Shushan (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Toto Tamuz (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Pini Balili (Sivasspor), Ben Sahar (Chelsea FC), Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa FC), Roberto Colautti (Maccabi Haifa FC).