The road to Rio for Israel begins in Baku tonight when it takes on Azerbaijan in the opening qualifier for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The atmosphere among Israel's national soccer team on the eve of its Group F opener is a mix of excitement, expectation and pressure.
Eli Guttman, the head coach who is starting his first official campaign, looks particularly stressed. While he has tried to display an aura of calm, he looks tense in practice with his arms folded and handing out few directives. No one could even draw a hint of a smile from him.
Perhaps he is waiting for the final whistle to blow in Baku tonight, but he is also probably aware that tonight's match could determine the team's future prospects to advance in the tournament. Although Israel should win - Azerbaijan is number 107 in the FIFA world rankings while Israel is ranked 75th - Guttman refused to say the words "three points" during this week's press conference. He would not speak of victory but rather that the team knows what it wants and what job it has to get done.
Azerbaijan is a must-win, in that Israel needs to collect points ahead of its more daunting Group F rivals Portugal and Russia. Israel hosts Russia on Tuesday.
Guttman told reporters this week that the team is ready, saying the team worked on its game strategy and the players internalized what he wants from them. "They know how to deal with every situation that could happen on the pitch," he said. He also said he felt like he would before a cup final or championship match, but that the moment the opening whistle blows the excitement will not affect the team's concentration.
Besides the heavy security surrounding Israel, the biggest story of the team is the coach's decision to start the match with Yossi Benayoun on the bench. The captain sat next to Guttman during the press conference, as required by FIFA rules, but Benayoun's body language indicated that if it were up to him he would have passed on the pleasure.
Tonight is set to be the first time in years that Benayoun does not start when he is completely fit. Close associates of Benayoun say he is disappointed by Guttman's decision and stressed he is in good shape. Benayoun said that although he has not played recently he did not understand why a place could not be found on the starting 11 for him, in contrast to other players in a similar situation, such as Itay Shechter.
Guttman said at the press conference that the starting lineup is not final, but in practice this past week he did not include Benayoun in the scrimmages. "Yossi is the team's captain, and he behaves accordingly," Guttman said. "I see how he supports the players. You have to tip your hat to him for what he's done off the pitch, but he's here because he can help us on the pitch."
Benayoun said it was less important to him who started as long as the team comes away with three points. "I've acted the same way I have on the squad for 14 years," he said. "I give 100 percent of myself."
