Last update - 00:00 03/09/2007
Israel coach recalls Zandberg, Saban ahead of crucial match against England
By The Associated Press
Israel national soccer team coach Dror Kashtan recalled Beitar Jerusalem midfielder Michael Zandberg and Maccabi Netanya defender Klemi Saban to face England on Saturday in a European Championship qualifying match.
Both players had been dropped recently, and Zandberg's omission from the squad for the 0-0 draw with visiting England in March caused controversy in Israel.
Also included in Kashtan's 23-man squad Monday were Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun and Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim. Ben Sahar, on loan from Chelsea to Charlton, was not in the team, however.
The 18-year-old Sahar scored two goals in his Israel debut against Estonia in March. He played his first game for Charlton in the League Championship on Saturday after recovering from an appendicitis operation.
"We have a good chance," said defender Shimon Gershon, who plays for Premier League champion Beitar Jerusalem. "The England team is under pressure. It is a home game for them, but they will be under more pressure than us in the opening minutes."
England will be missing David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard because of injury, while Israel will be playing with close to a full squad.
"Every result apart from a loss would be one of the great achievements of Israeli football," Kashtan said. "Although England has been hit by injuries, the England squad is full of talent, and I am sure that with all their problems it is still a good national team."
The match at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium will be England's first competitive game at the famous venue since it reopened in March.
Israel leads Group E with 17 points, the same as Croatia. England is fourth with 14 points, one less than Russia.
The Israeli players, who travel to England on Tuesday, got some extra rest at home last weekend when league matches were canceled at the request of Kashtan.
Roster:
Goalkeepers: Dudu Awat (Deportivo La Coruna), Nir Davidovitch (Maccabi Haifa), Liran Strauber (Maccabi Netanya)
Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Chelsea), Arik Benado (Beitar Jerusalem), Shimon Gershon (Beitar Jerusalem), Yoav Ziv (Beitar Jerusalem), Yuval Sprungin (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Klemi Saban (Maccabi Netanya), Avi Strul (Maccabi Netanya), Yigal Antebi (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Midfielders: Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Walid Badier (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Gal Alberman (Beitar Jerusalem), Idan Tal (Beitar Jerusalem), Michael Zandberg (Beitar Jerusalem)
Forwards: Toto Tamuz (Beitar Jerusalem), Barak Itzhaki (Beitar Jerusalem), Omer Golan (Maccabi Petah Tikva), Pini Balili (Sivasspor), Roberto Collauti (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Elyaniv Barda (Genk), Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa)