The Israel national team's stopper, Shawn Goldberg, has 7 appearances in the national uniform, all of which were in 2022. The late breakthrough at the age of 26 is not something that many players experience.
Perhaps this is the reason, that a player who played over 2,500 minutes this season, did not give up on coming to the national team, despite a back injury and went up to play against Zambia when he took painkillers.
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Already in a conversation with the team members, the player clarified: "I will not give up on coming, if I feel I can play, I will come."
In the end, that's what happened.
"Sean Goldberg has become a starting stopper in the Israeli national team," says the team, "I wish there were a few more Sean Goldbergs in terms of work ethic, determination and appreciation for where he is."
The pains in Goldberg's back are not an invention.
The veterans in the football association and the national team remember a number of players who are "injured" in a certain game and do not receive a summons due to injury.
Goldberg was examined by the team doctor, who recognized the blow he received in the game against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Shawn Goldberg is on the air.
A game of sacrifice without compromise, photo: AP
"After he arrived and was examined, he could have been released, but the choice was to play," said the team, "this is also an example for young players. Players like Goldberg, Beavers Natcho and others. There are other players like Neta Lavie, Miguel Vitor, Ramzi Spore, Amri Glazer , Dean David and Giv Yehezkel, that is, quite a few who suffered from a load but came to the national team and did not rush to leave. Everything will be taken into account in the future as well."
Goldberg, similar to Maccabi Haifa, is not one to complain or pose a problem in the dressing room, "he is a positive guy", everyone testifies.
Maybe it's the karma around him, that when he played this year, the team lost only once and that was against the German team in a friendly match (0:2).
Goldberg was not involved in the loss to Malta in an unimportant game and in the other games as mentioned, Israel won or ended in a draw.
Sean Goldberg.
Ayodad close to Sami Ofer, photo: Alan Shiver
Another interesting statistic: not a single game this year did Israel keep a clean sheet.
It may be a detail that is difficult to attribute to the duty of one player, but once Goldberg became a significant screw in the back line of the team, the expectation was from him, from Miguel Vitor and the other players in the back line, to bring more stability to the defensive game.
It is not certain that Hazan will further burden the Maccabi Haifa stopper in tonight's game (Sunday, 6:30 p.m.) against Cyprus, but if he needs to, Goldberg will be there.
Neymar vs Sean Goldberg.
A great season, photo: Alan Shiver
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