They say that in football there is no magic, that only way and hard work bring results. Israel's youth team is an example of this. Almost all of Ofir Haim's players, who reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup (Saturday, 20:30, Kan 11) and the final of the European Championship, went through the excellence project and the academy established by the Football Association.
In fact, the 2003 and 2004 yearbooks are the first to take part in a project established by Nir Levin and Ofer Fabian. It started with 150 players, including players from the current national team. "From them we took the talented and promoted them. When you work right, there are results," Levine said.
Nir Levin. Long project, photo: Maor Elkeslassy
Today's stars in the boys' team went through the journey together as if it were the club they grew up in. The connection was built and strengthened, and several more talents were added along the way. This is how one of the most talented teams in the history of Israeli football was built here.
At the same time, it is clear that the main test will be to build the squad further so that it can be integrated into the senior team in the future as well. They no longer expect to reach the final of the European Championship or the quarter-finals of the World Cup, just to qualify for these tournaments and make history, just as this young group knows.
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Halaili, celebrating the Arc de Triomphe with his friends. Tears of joy, Photo: AP
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