Benayoun Defies Benitez: Star to Play Hurt

Israel’s Yossi Benayoun is set to defy his club Liverpool’s wishes, after announcing he would risk his hamstring injury to play for Israel.

“Missing out on Saturday’s game would be the biggest disappointment of my career,” Israel’s star said.

So whilst Rafa Benitez has Liverpool in-form and pushing Manchester United at the top of the Premier League and set to square off against rivals Chelsea in the Champions League, he is faced with the possibility of losing Benayoun for a few weeks if the Israeli aggravates his already month old injury…

Regardless of the club vs country debate, and whether or not Benayoun is fit enough to start against Greece, the Israelis will have their hands full. The Greeks, winners of Euro 2004, travel to Ramat Gan top of the World Cup Qualifying group – looking to distance themselves further from Israel and Switzerland in the standings.

Even if Benayoun misses out, Omer Golan and Elyaniv Barda are on fire at their clubs in Belgium and if they combine to score two, as they did in the first half against the Ivory Coast in October, just maybe Israel has a chance of getting something out of the match against Greece.

So Benayoun, Golan, Barda (and to a lesser extent – Alberman – who should pull the strings from the midfield if Benayoun is absent) will be the keys to success. If those players swim, Israel swims. If they sink, Israel will drown in a (Mediterranean) Sea of Greeks tomorrow.