Having narrowly missed out (again) on qualification for the 2010 World Cup, the Israeli national team is low on confidence, and ideas. But the best class of youngsters in recent memory (Sahar, Golasa, and Assulin) combined with the veteran presence of Liverpool’s creative superstar Yossi Benayoun still gives Israeli football fans the belief that the [...]

In less than a month, Israel plays two must-win games – against Latvia and Luxembourg – in its campaign to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
The country’s hopes for qualifying are slim but today in Belfast the team was able to play Northern Ireland to a 1-1 draw.
Grant McCann scored an [...]

Israeli teenage prodigy Gai Assulin showed some of his skill as he made his first team debut for European champion Barcelona this weekend.
Assulin played the first 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at London’s Wembley Stadium.
The 18-year old Israeli international put in a good shift despite being played out of position [...]

Hapoel Tel Aviv midfielder Shay Abutbul is close to signing a deal with struggling MLS club New York Red Bulls.
The 26-year old former Israel U21 international is currently a free agent after spending about eight seasons with Hapoel. He’s no Benayoun, but he is a strong midfielder with good tackling ability and vision.

Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun has pledged his future to Liverpool today – agreeing to a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2013.
The star midfielder had received interest from Barcelona, CSKA Moscow, Besiktas, and other clubs around Europe this summer – but he has decided his future lies at Anfield.
Great news for [...]

Israeli footballers have never been brighter on club level – with stars like Benayoun at Liverpool and Assulin a star in the making at Barcelona – but on the domestic level, the standards are improving as well…
Today, a few Israeli teams received their draws in European competitions.
Bnei Yehuda will take on Simurq (from Azerbaijan) in [...]

Ok, not alongside Messi at FC Barcelona. But he will be playing in the city.
Spanish sources have reported that Israeli young stud Ben Sahar will be joining Espanyol from Chelsea as early as this week on a permanent basis. The Israeli striker / winger found his scoring touch on a loan spell in Holland this [...]

Israel’s captain and Liverpool’s creative midfielder Yossi Benayoun admits he has received offers from clubs in England and Spain after a successful season at Anfield.
Whilst Benayoun would probably prefer to stay with Liverpool and fight for some silverware, he clearly must understand the two massive factors that could sway him in this decision.
The two [...]

Who wouldn’t want to play for their country? To represent the flag on the highest level?
Well, Gai Assulin, that’s who.
Israel’s finest footballing prodigy – the next Benayoun – the next Barcelona superstar, has decided to shun the U-21 national team and skip the squad’s European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria next Wednesday.
I couldn’t agree more [...]

Only three years ago, Israeli international Ben Sahar was the “next big thing.” Hapoel Tel Aviv sold the young stud to Chelsea for £320,000 and in 2007, at only seventeen, he made his Premier League debut – coming on as a substitute for Arjen Robben.
Oh, how the mighty Israeli has fallen…
Israel’s youngest ever goalscorer was [...]