Northern Ireland v Israel

MIDFIELDERS

BIBRAS NATKHO Olympiacos Age 30 Caps 50 Goals 1

ERAN ZAHAVI Guangzhou R&F Age 31 Caps 39 Goals 6

BERAM KAYAL Brighton & Hove Albion Age 30 Caps 33 Goals 1

Israel’s captain and the most capped player in this current squad. He has been playing abroad since 2010 having been employed by Rubin Kazan, PAOK, CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos. Once scored for Rubin against Michael O’Neill’s Shamrock Rovers in a 2011 Europa League game. Natkho has been a full Israel international since 2010.

Zahavi currently plays for Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F. Scored 35 goals in 36 games for Maccabi Haifa during the 2015-16 season and previously played for Palermo prior to Kyle Lafferty’s arrival. Made seven starts in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers and scored in the 3-0 victory over Albania.

One of two England-based players in the Israel squad, Kayal was a Celtic team- mate of Niall McGinn’s before he joined Brighton south of the border. Kayal made his international debut in 2008 but, due to injury, only played in one World Cup 2018 qualifier against Italy.

DAN EINBINDER Hapoel Be’er Sheva Age 29 Caps 7 Goals 1

DOR PERETZ Maccabi Tel Aviv Age 23 Caps 2 Goals 0

DOR MICHA Maccabi Tel Aviv Age 26 Caps 1 Goals 0

Einbinder had not received an international cap prior to the World Cup 2018 qualifiers but played in six games in that campaign and scored his first goal in the 3-0 win over Albania. Has played for three clubs in Israel in recent seasons - Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

Bar a loan spell with Hapoel Haifa, Peretz has spent his entire career with Maccabi Tel Aviv, winning a treble with them in 2014-15. Has not played for the senior Israel team since 2016 but was a regular with the Under- 21s and he made the squad for the game against Romania in March.

Micha is a long-time club colleague of Peretz’s at Maccabi Tel Aviv. He made 25 starts in the Israeli Premier League last season, scoring just once. Having represented his country at both Under-19 and Under-21 level, Micha won his first senior cap in March’s friendly with Romania.

DAN GLAZER Maccabi Tel Aviv Age 21 Caps 0 Goals 0

MAXIM PLAKUSHCHENKO Hapoel Haifa Age 22 Caps 0 Goals 0

The uncapped Plakushchenkowas a regular with the Under-21s in the Euro 2017 qualification campaign having previously featured at Under-19 level. Plakushchenkowas involved in both legs of Hapoel Haifa’s Europa League tie with Atalanta last year, which the Italians won 6-1 on aggregate to advance.

Glazer only made his Maccabi Tel Aviv debut this season after loan spells with Beitar Tel Aviv and Maccabi Netanya. He has not won a senior international cap but he has come through the ranks with Israel, featuring for the Under-17s, Under-19s and Under-21s in recent years.

FORWARDS

TOMER HEMED Queens Park Rangers Age 31 Caps 32 Goals 16

MOANES DABOUR Red Bull Salzburg Age 26 Caps 7 Goals 1 Dabour had two campaignswhere hemanaged double figures in goalswith Swiss club Grasshopper and at Salzburg he scored 22 AustrianBundesliga goals as theywon the title last term. Hewas also instrumental in their run to the Europa League semi-finals, scoring seven times in 16 games and sowill be one towatch.

ALON TURGEMAN Austria Wien Age 27 Caps 1 Goals 0 Turgeman is another striker in Israel’s squad that plays his club football in Austria. He spent six years with Maccabi Haifa before last year joining Hapoel Haifa on loan. His 12 league goals with Hapoel and his first international appearance in March led to him earning a move to Vienna.

Hemed is onBrighton&Hove Albion’s books but joinedNorthern Irelandwinger Paul Smyth at QPRwhen hemoved to Loftus Road on loan lastmonth. He then scored on his debut in a 1-0 win overWigan. Prolific at international level, too, Hemed has scored nine goals across the previous twoWorldCup qualifying campaigns.

DIA SABA Maccabi Netanya Age 25 Caps 1 Goals 0

MANOR SOLOMON Maccabi Petah Tikva Age 19 Caps 0 Goals 0

Somewhat of a late developer, Saba was the Israeli Premier League’s top scorer last season, having found the net 24 times in his 34 appearances. He has won caps with Israel at Under-19 and Under-21 level and was one of those who made their senior bow against Romania.

Solomon is the only teenager in Israel’s squad but he has already been linked with European giants Juventus and Liverpool. He was an unused substitute in three World Cup 2018 qualifiers but a friendly at the National Stadium at Windsor Park could present him with a chance to impress.

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