The dream is bigger than that: despite the storm, Zahavi must find a way to be in the team
The Israeli team has entered a new era with new procedures that will not change, but Eran Zahavi can and should find the formula to be part of it.
If the fantasy of the big tournament is still burning in his bones, he must compromise and even sleep in the laundry room - otherwise he will regret it for years to come
Ofir Saar
16/09/2022
Friday, September 16, 2022, 09:30
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Abstract: MS.
Ashdod - Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:0 (Sport1)
It's hard to forget Eran Zahavi's moving motivational speech to the Israeli national team players ahead of the match against Scotland in the previous round of the Nations League.
At one point, Zahavi said to the players when he was emotional and on the verge of tears: "I don't end my career without going to a big tournament."
He really spoke to everyone's heart to try to change something in this kind of games.
Next Saturday, the Israeli team will host Albania and try to take advantage of a golden opportunity to reach the Nations League playoffs.
It doesn't matter who is right - a team's decision is a team's decision, and if Oren Hasson, Yossi Benion and Alon Hazan stand behind it, it will not change.
What can change is Eran Zahavi's decision.
If qualifying for a major tournament is still his dream, he must find a way to get himself back into the squad.
Owed it mostly to himself.
Zahavi (Photo: Barney Ardov)
It's no secret that from the day Willy Rothensteiner was out and Yossi Bennion was in, there was tension in the air around the issue of Eran Zahavi.
You could feel it in the small details, even when Zahabi wrote in the team's WhatsApp group after attacks, or also in the announcement about the injury and surgery before the previous gathering.
When you are the star everyone has something to say about you, sometimes even the actors.
The tension was in the air, but it remained at a tolerable level, especially when it comes to Eran Zahavi who has never been politically correct.
Zahavi earned a lot of credits during Rotensteiner's tenure.
He was the almost exclusive executor of the team, became its star and received recognition he had not previously received as one of the greatest in the history of Israeli football.
The assessment also came from the side of Yossi Benyon and Alon Hazan, that the talk about not wanting him in the squad is incorrect.
If not for the recent developments, it is likely that Zahabi would also have started against Albania.
No one knows what is really going through Zahabi's mind, but from what we do know, he still wants to be part of the team.
Somehow, during a week of conversations on the subject, ego also came into play and this is not something that can be used in front of people who are above you in the hierarchy and manage the team.
They are the ones who decide and they determine, this is the path they chose and it will not change.
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It was in the air.
Benion (Photo: Audi Citiat)
What can change?
Zahavi's decision.
If a major tournament is still his big dream, he will gain nothing from the latest affair.
If the team wins they will say they don't need Zahavi, if they don't win they will say he was missing.
One thing is certain: in any of the scenarios Zahavi will feel bad that he wasn't there and it will eat his heart.
"You know I don't usually talk, before a game I'm in my focus and let everyone focus on theirs," said Zahavi at the beginning of that famous speech before Scotland.
Eran deviated from his habit before that game, and he can deviate from his habit before the current game as well.
The dream is bigger than that.
In a room with a partner and even in a laundry room - Zahavi must find a way to return to the squad.
You could feel between the lines in his post that this is not a farewell, he leaves an opening for a return and his agent Ronen Katsav also spoke in a similar tone.
Right now, he only has something to lose.
Zahavi (photo: official website, the Football Association)
All you have to do is understand these conditions, and accept them.
It's worth the chance to make the dream come true.
Don't be surprised if one day he and Benyon smile together side by side at a celebratory press conference.
So surely Banyon will ask Zahavi: "Remember that because of an argument about a room you were almost not here?".
sport
Tags
Israel national football team
Eran Zehavi
Yossi Benayoun