New coach Grant banks on Revivo

Falling out 
Revivo had fallen out with former coach Richard Møller-Nielsen when he pulled out of the 7-1 drubbing by Germany earlier this year for personal reasons.

'Commitment to play' 
Grant, however, explained that he was unwilling to omit a player of Revivo's quality. "When you have players of the calibre of Revivo you cannot afford not to try and make use of them," he said.

Five debutants 
Five debutants made the squad for the match in Kaunas on 21 August, including Yigal Antebi. The 28-year-old Hapoel Tel-Aviv defender has been selected despite a custom that all Jewish players in the national team must have served in the army.

Squad breakdown 
Grant has picked six players from Maccabi Tel-Aviv, where he was once manager, and five from Maccabi Haifa, who he coached before taking the national job. Six others are from last season's UEFA Cup quarter-finalists Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Cut down to size 
Grant has named a 25-man squad but will trim that to between 18 and 20 players before the trip.

Israel squad 
Awat, Strauber, Elimelech, Keisi, Benado, Bachar, Brumer, Ben-Haim, Antebi, Rabah Gershon, Badir, Abuksis, Harazi, Benayoun, Berkovic, Tal Banin, Idan Tal, Nimni, Zandberg, Revivo, Tikva, Afek, Kfirudi, Biton.