Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 31, 2008 Adar2 25, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:29 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Soccer / Assulin's debut marks a turning point By Eitan Beckerman Tags: Dror Kashtan All we have to do is invite Chad, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, and crown ourselves world champions of friendly encounters. Not that Chile played badly, or that Israel were not OK during the team's 1-0 victory on Wednesday, but saying Israel played well is an overstatement. Israel coach Dror Kashtan opened with the usual 4-4-2 formation. It creates a problem because Yossi Benayoun gravitates toward the middle, creating too much pressure, alongside Elyaniv Barda and Barak Itzhaki, in the center. But tactical issues were put aside when youngster Gai Assulin won his first cap. When Shura Ubarov told Assulin to warm up, the kid didn't believe it. But when in the 75th minute he was sent on and received rapturous applause, he realized it was really happening. After an embrace with Benayoun, he slalomed between the players in a way reminiscent of his clips on YouTube, and the crowd was ecstatic. Assulin's decision to play for Israel, though he could also have played for Spain where he is a resident, was a fantastic achievement for the Israeli Football Association. It causes one to wonder how they didn't manage to screw it up. How did they do it? Did they tell him that if he plays for the national team he might one day end up at Barcelona (his current club)? Either way, it seems like something fundamental has changed in the team; whether it truly has only time will tell. Advertisement During the break, as the VIPs were brushing shoulders in the lounge, the legendary Emanuel Shefer, who coached Israel when it took part in the 1970 World Cup, remained sitting in the stands. He sat alone, his bald head glinting, staring at the patch of grass upon which he spent most of his life. Shefer worked tirelessly to prepare the national team in various training camps in Israel and abroad. Nowadays, players still want to hold training camps abroad, but they have been told to stay in Israel. Kashtan, who was once considered Shefer's heir, has told his players they will not hold practices until August 20, two weeks before the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign. Again, the association has erred. Hopefully, no one will tell Shefer, who has been nominated for the Israel Prize and passed 80 a long time ago. It will be hazardous to his health. During his day, a player who asked for a vacation would be given the boot. But Kashtan cares more about players' leisure and their commitments to their clubs abroad. Bookmark to del.icio.us   My land, my country Israeli Arabs mark 32nd Land Day in demonstrations across the country. One voice on Israel It's hard to find differences in U.S. candidates' promises on peace process.

Today Online 'PM passed 20 messages to Assad, but he disappointed us' Responses: 76 Bush: Peace deal by 2009 likely if road map fulfilled Responses: 158 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Responses: 171 Editorial: Israel must help Bush, Rice's belated peace effort succeed Responses: 42 More Headlines 00:00 Bush 'optimistic' on 2009 Mideast peace deal 22:17 Israeli Arab leader on Land Day: We'll fight Israel's 'rising fascism' 00:01 Study: 60% of Israel's poor are ultra-Orthodox and Arabs 21:55 Vatican: Islam surpasses Roman Catholicism as world's largest religion 23:56 Barak to bereaved parents: Labor to quit gov't sooner than anticipated 22:33 Genealogy Web site attempts to map out entire Jewish people 01:29 Police: Bnei Brak has by far the highest rate of sexual offenses 20:16 Netanyahu: No substitute for Israeli control in West Bank 22:54 On Israel, Clinton, Obama and McCain all aim to be like Bush 21:42 Gaza protesters demand that Egypt release Hamas militants 21:20 CIA chief: Al-Qaida recruiting 'Western'-looking fighters 00:39 Motor racing body mum as president accused in Nazi role-playing sex scandal 23:17 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Previous Editions Select Day 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar

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