Israel gather for play-off preparation

Vital preparation
Iwanir's original 25-man selection has been reduced to 20 players for the get-together because of club commitments in the Israeli League Cup. Nevertheless, the coach, who replaced Guy Levy midway through the qualifying round campaign, believes the assembly will serve its purpose: "We are still in the early stages of our preparations and, despite the League Cup matches, the key thing is that we get together."

Four newcomers
Iwanir has added four new faces to the squad that finished second behind Germany in Group 9 – Eyal Golassa, Mohammad Ghadir, Tal Ben Haim and Gal Levy. But further tinkering is unlikely, with the 25 players the coach has in mind expected to be called upon against Italy. The only grey area is the possibility that Ben Sahar, Baram Kayal, Maor Bar Buzaglo or Shemoel Kozokin could be nominated for the senior team's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Latvia on the same dates as the Italy double-header.

Worthy rivals
Looking ahead to the Italy play-off, with the first leg taking place in Ancona and the return match in Tel-Aviv, the coach said: "Italy are a big name but all the teams at this stage are good and we are also here on merit." Goalkeeper and captain Ohad Levita added: "If we stop them scoring in Ancona, we will be more than happy, but there is still a lot of work to be done." The winners will join hosts Sweden in next summer's finals, to be played between 15 and 29 June.

Israel squad
Goalkeepers: Ohad Levita (Hapoel Kfar Saba FC), Itamar Nitzan (Maccabi Hertzliya FC), Daniel Amos (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC).

Defenders: Lior Jan (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Nissim Kapiloto (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Shai Maymon (Maccabi Haifa FC), Omri Kende (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Orel Dgani (Maccabi Netanya FC), Tayacho Chekol (FC Ashdod), Oshri Roash (Hapoel Haifa FC).

Midfielders: Sheran Yeini (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Lior Rafaelov (Maccabi Haifa FC), Eyal Golassa (Maccabi Haifa FC), Eran Zahavi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Avihai Yadin (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Bebars Natcho (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Tamir Cahalon (Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC), Almog Cohen (Maccabi Netanya FC), Gal Levy (Hakoah Maccabi Amidar Ramat Gan).

Forwards: Toto Tamuz (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Yoval Avidor (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC), Mohammad Ghadir (Maccabi Haifa FC), Tomer Hemad (Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC), Etey Shechter (Maccabi Netanya FC), Shimon Abuhatzira (Hapoel Petach-Tikva FC), Tal Ben Haim (Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC).