The Israeli team will travel to Glasgow in October for its most important match in the 2022 World Cup qualifier campaign against Scotland (9.10).
But coach Willy Rotensteiner is already signaling a big problem in the defensive squad, with most of the back squad players unable to play.
First, Hapoel B'Tselem Hatem al-Hamid is sent off due to the accumulation of yellow cards, when he is joined by a chain of injured players who cause a lot of headaches for the team's professional team.
At first it is Eitan Tibi, who is not expected to recover until the confrontation with the Scots, just like Uriel Degani from Betar Jerusalem. Including Alhamid, these are three players, who at least on paper and according to early plans, were all supposed to be in Israel. After playing together in previous games against Austria, Faroe Islands and Denmark.
The wounded Abu Fani.
A problem is also expected in the back link, Photo: Udi Citiat
Given the fact that Israeli football is not saturated with players in the back positions, Rotensteiner does not currently have an ideal solution, but given the situation created in the team, it is hoped that Celtic stopper Nir Bitton will be fit in time and available to the professional team in Glasgow.
The same is true of Maccabi Haifa player Ofer Arad, who recently experienced a difficult period on a personal level due to the death of his father.
Rotensteiner advocates a three-brake method and he glue played in each of his games as the national team coach.
Despite the situation created by the many shortcomings in defense, the Austrian coach tends to continue on the same path and find creative solutions within the existing framework, although it is still unclear what improvisation he will decide on.
It is important to note that even in the back link position, the team is expected to have significant losses, with two Maccabi Haifa players, Muhammad Abu Fani and Neta Lavi, not being part of the squad for the pair of games against Scotland and Moldova (at home) due to injuries.
