With a national record 33 goals from a national record 83 caps, Mordechai Shpigler is something of a football icon in Israel. Now, as the qualifying group stage for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship nears its conclusion, he is looking forward to the country as a whole coming under the footballing spotlight.

"The time has come," the former Maccabi Netanya FC, Paris Saint-Germain FC, New York Cosmos and Hapoel Haifa FC forward, 67, told UEFA.com. "Ever since I can remember, I have been hoping it would happen one day. I have prepared myself for so long for the day when, with a big smile, I could say, 'Welcome Europe, welcome to Israel'."

To watch the full interview click the video box above.