Sahar given Israel chance

Israel coach Dror Kashtan has given Chelsea FC striker Ben Sahar a first senior call-up in his squad to face Ukraine in their friendly at the Ramat Gan national stadium in Tel-Aviv on Wednesday.

Sahar chance
The 17-year-old Sahar, who has appeared twice perviously for the Under-21 side and scored in the first leg of their UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off victory against France in October, is one of 22 names Kashtan has chosen. Central defender Arik Benado, meanwhile, is selected for the first time under the coach's reign and will set a new record caps mark of 90 if he plays. Bolton Wanderers FC midfielder Idan Tal and Maccabi Haifa FC striker Roberto Colautti, who are both suspended from Israel's next UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against England on 24 March, are both left out. The team are currently fifth in Group E.

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

Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Bolton Wanderers FC), Dekel Keinan (Maccabi Haifa FC), Arik Benado (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Shimon Gershon (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Robi Gafni (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Yoav Ziv (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Tomer Ben Yossef (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Klemi Saban (FC Steaua Bucuresti), Yuval Shpungin (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC).

Midfielders: Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United FC), Walid Badir (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Salim Toamah (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Michael Zandberg (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Gal Alberman (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Amit Ben Shushan (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Lior Refaelov (Maccabi Haifa FC), Pini Balili (Sivaspor).

Forwards: Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa FC), Omer Golan (Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC), Ben Sahar (Chelsea FC).