4.9.2002,
John Gresham is thrilling stories writer, but even he can't find the words to give about this match. Israel travels back to Luxembourg to find her second win.

Israel still has defensive problems, Shimon Gershon, the Center Back.

Mostly Avraham Grant wants to get his players the broken self-confidence back after they trashed in the games with Denmark and Germany under Richard Nilsens hands. Few weeks back Israel past Lithuania with a 4-2 win. The Israeli defense didn’t play so good but now they will not have many problems with anonymous strike force of Luxembourg. Grant knows that a draw or loss here may kill all self-confidence but even he thinks that Israel will win by 3-4 goals. Remember that Israel always was good in friendly matches.
Without the Israeli league, people in Israel are thirsty for soccer but meanwhile they see Yossi Benayoun, Eyal Berkovic and Haim Revivo staring in their European teams. Last match Berkovic was injured and Benayoun wasn’t invited, but now Israel has both Berko and Benayoun but Haim carrying some injury and he also didn’t play at Fenerbache's Sunday match against Denizlispor. Yossi is also semi injured and will take fitness test before the game. Israelis seem in a good shape and have some happiness due to Maccabi Haifa's success to gain a place in the Champions League. Also both Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv are in the first round of UEFA cup. Idan Tal feels better because he is now moving to Rayo Vallecano the Spanish side from Everton where he didn’t play so much this year.
Every position in the Israeli starting lineup has 2 or even 3 good players in the squad so that is why Grant has a lot of good problems about the starting lineup. It seems like, Grant will prefer an attacking form. Awate was favorite to open as goalkeeper again before Shtrauber, but a flow took him out of the team and Shtrauber will be the first goalkeeper. At the back it looks like the 4 who started in the game against Lithuania will start again, except Arik Benado that is injured so Tal Ben Haim will replace him. At midfield Grant may give Tal Banin more attacking role then he used to. Eyal Berkovic will also start, but Idan Tal might be on the bench at the start. In the attack will see Kfir Odi and Omeri Afek from Hapoel Tel Aviv again.

In Luxembourg section there is not a lot to say. No one thinks they might get a draw or something like that. They just hope not to get a lot of goals. Sasa Shnaider the midfielder is injured and the new talent Arik Hoffman is with the youth national team in Russia.

Israel: Shtrauber ; Bahar, Ben Haim, Gershon, Keissi; Banin, Badir, Abuksis, Berkovic; Afek, Odi.

Luxembourg: Gillet; Deville, Strasser, Ferron, Vanek; Remy, Holtz, Schneider, Cardoni  ; Christophe, Huss.

What do I think? Not very good match to watch, but the Israelis might slip because they have done many stupid things in the past. But I believe that 5-0 will be a nice score. Afek with another pair of goals, Zandberg, Berko and Odi will score too.

DID u KNOW: Alan Hamer from Luxembourg was the refare in the historical game between Maccabi Haifa and Sturm Gratz a week ago. So Israel owe to Luxembourg.

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