Israel national beach soccer team

infobox national football team
Name = Israel
Badge =
FIFA Trigramme = ISR
Nickname =
Association = Israel Football Association
Confederation = UEFA (Europe)
Coach = flagicon|Israel Benni Lam
Asst Manager =
Captain = Tzahi Ilos
Vice Captain =
Most caps = Tzahi Ilos (9)
Top scorer = Tzahi Ilos (22)
Home Stadium = "Ron Nof" stadium, Poleg beach, Netanya.
First game = beachsoccer|England 5 - 6 Israel flagicon|Israel (Netanya, Israel; June 1 2007)
Largest win = flagicon|Turkey Turkey 4 - 11 Israel flagicon|Israel (Natanya, Israel; June 26 2008)
Largest loss = beachsoccer|Brazil 11 - 3 Israel flagicon|Israel (Natanya, Israel; July 11 2008)

The Israel national beach soccer team represents Israel in international beach soccer competitions and is controlled by the IFA, the governing body for football in Israel.

History

In June 2007, the Israel Beach Soccer league was founded. For the opening event, the IFA scheduled a friendly match between Israel's and England's national teams. At the end, Israel won its first match 6-5. Both Alon Mizrahi and Itzik Zohar, former national player for Israel national football team, scored during the first match. [ [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=2000&ArticleID=1372&Page=2 Sensation in Netanya - Israel defeated England 6-5 (Hebrew)] ]

2007 Euro Beach Soccer League qualifiers

Later in June 2007, the Israeli national team participated in Group 2 qualifying games of Euro Beach Soccer League in Athens. Israel lost its first match against Russia 12-13 after penalty shootout. The match ended in a 6-6 draw, and after a scoreless extra time, the teams went to a penalty shootout. Israel's captain, Tzahi Ilos, scored all of Israel's regular time goals. [ [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=2000&ArticleID=1581&Page=1 Israel lost to Russia 12-13 (Hebrew)] ] At the second match of the group stage, Israel surprised the host Greece, and won 2-1. Tzahi Ilos scored the winning goal on the third period. [ [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=2000&ArticleID=1579&Page=1 Sensation in Athens!!! Israel national beach soccer team defeats the host 2-1 (Hebrew)] ] At the end, Israel finished second in the group, after Russia's 5-1 win against Greece, and didn't qualify to the 2007 Euro Beach Soccer League. Israel's captain, Tzahi Ilos, won the MVP and top scorers awards. [ [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=2000&ArticleID=1578&Page=1 Journey summary - Israel beach soccer team (Hebrew)] ]

Diamonds Tournament

In August 2007 the first ever Pro Beach Soccer Tour "Diamonds Tournament" [ [http://www.beachsoccer.com/comp_news_enlarge.php?idnew=327&idn=0&seccion=2&action=close&id=0/ Netanya’s Diamonds Cup brings top-notch action to Israel] beachsoccer.com] was held in Natanya, Israel. Four teams: Germany, Turkey, Israel and France, 3rd in the world at this time, took part. At the first round, Israel met Turkey, and won 6-3. Tzahi Ilos scored four goals. [ [http://beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/tour/news/002.php?id=2&idn=329 Germany shocks France to meet hosts Israel in the final] beachsoccer.com] At the final, Israel met Germany, who surprised France at the semi finals. Israel won 4-3, with Ilos scoring the winning goal 9 minutes to the end. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1186557422797/ Beach Soccer: Israel triumph in tourney] Jerusalem Post]

2008 Challenge Cup

In June 2008 the FIFA Beach Soccer Challenge Cup was held in Israel. The six national teams competed to achieve single ticket to Group A of Euro Beach Soccer League. Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Turkey and the host Israel took part. Israel, as the host, and Germany, as first seeded, were exempted from the quarterfinals, and played a friendly match in the first match day. Israel defeated Germany for the second time in history, 6-4 after 36 minutes. [ [http://beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/tour/news/002.php?id=2&idn=424 Turkey and Czech Republic shine and grab semi final spot] beachsoccer.com] At the semifinals, Israel met Turkey. Israel had no problems, and defeated Turkey 11-4. Tzahi Ilos scored five goals and Eran Levi, in his debut, scored two goals. [ [http://beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/tour/news/002.php?id=2&idn=425 Israel thrills in Challenge Cup and reaches final] beachsoccer.com] At the final, Israel met Germany for the second time in three days, and won again. Israel won 4-3, after already leading 4-1 at the third period. Shaul Mimon scored two goals, with Tzahi Ilos and Eran Levi adding one goal each. Eran Levi won the MVP award, and Tzahi Ilos won the top scorer award. [ [http://beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/tour/news/002.php?id=2&idn=426 Israel breaks through all the way to the title] beachsoccer.com]

Israel vs. Brazil

On July 11 2008, Israel played a friendly match against the world champions Brazil, as part of Israel's 60th anniversary celebrations and Brazil's preparations for the 2008 World Cup.
Israel had an early 2-1 lead, after Tzahi Ilos' bicycle kick and Eran Levi's long shot, but Brazil equaled until the end of the first period. The second period was in Brazil's control, scoring six goals and conceding only one goal from Levi's legs, making it a 8-3 lead. Israel couldn't score in the third period, conceding three goals and eventually losing 11-3.
Buru was the top scorer, scoring four goals, including a hat-trick in just a minute. Benjamin and Bruno scored two goals each, with Júnior Negão, André and Daniel adding one goal each. Eran Levi scored two out of Israel's three, with Ilos adding one goal. [ [http://beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/news/002.php?id=3&idn=433 World champions extend winning streak] ] [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215330947820&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Beach Soccer: Brazil shows its skills in win over Israel] ]

Current squad

"Israel's squad for the 2008 Challenge Cup: [ [http://www.beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/teams/002.php?idj=0&idc=0&year=0&idp=77 Israel's squad for the 2008 Challenge Cup] beachsoccer.com]

Coach: Benni Lam

Participations

* ESBL Preliminary Event: Athens, Greece, 2007
* Challenge Cup: Netanya, Israel, 2008 - 1st place

ee also

* Beach Soccer in Israel
* Israel national football team

References