Most caps Arik Benado (39) Home stadium Ness Ziona Stadium Appearances 2 (first in 2007) Head coach Marco Balbul Location Israel | Top scorer Alon Mizrahi (15) FIFA code ISR Best result Group Stage, 3rd Place Captain Ataa Jaber Ground Ness Ziona Stadium | |
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Association Israel Football Association | ||
Israel's national Under-21 team (Hebrew: הנבחרת הצעירה של ישראל בכדורגל) is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national football team. It has recently qualified for the European Championships to be held in the Netherlands after beating the French under-21 team 2-1 on aggregate.
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This team is for Israeli players aged 21 or under at the start of a two-year UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Also in existence are teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, making it possible to play for the U-21s, senior side and again for the U-21s, as Shlomi Arbeitman has done recently. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (providing the player is eligible).
The U-21 team came into existence, following the Israel's acceptance as a full member of UEFA. A draw in a qualifier against Greece in Greece was Israel U-21s' first result.
Israel U-21s do not have a permanent home. They play in stadia dotted all around Israel in an attempt to encourage fans in all areas of the country to get behind Israel. Because of the lack of appeal compared to the senior national team, smaller grounds are used (such as HaMoshava Stadium).
Competition History
There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. European U-21 teams compete for the European Championship, with the finals every even-numbered year. It will be held in odd-numbered years from 2007. Israel has never fared well in European Under-21 Football Championships.
The current campaign started shortly after the 2006 finals - the qualification stage of the 2007 competition. UEFA have decided to shift the next tournament forward to avoid a clash with senior tournaments taking place in even-numbered years. The competition has therefore been reduced as qualifying must be completed in a year's less time. In their three-team qualification group, Israel finished ahead of Turkey and Wales. In the two-legged play-off against France for a place in the final stage, the team achieved a surprising 1-1 draw in France and won the home match 1-0, with Amir Taga scoring in stoppage time.
Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.
Top Appearances
Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Top Goalscorers
Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s.
Current squad
The following players were named in the squad for 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Greece and Albania.[1]
Recent callups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 8 months: