The Israeli handball team is preparing to host the Lithuanian team in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (19:00), as part of the second stage of the World Cup qualifiers. Tomorrow morning from Vilnius to Tel Aviv, the players and crew were canceled, instead given to war refugees from Ukraine who are supposed to continue arriving in Israel, and at the same time, they reported that the rest of the flights to Israel were full.
The Lithuanians have also updated the European Union on development, and made it clear in a statement to the Handball Association of Israel that they are trying to resolve the matter as soon as possible – including through the intervention of the Lithuanian Minister of Sports. The Israel Handball Association expressed hope that the matter would be resolved, and at the same time, assessments are continuing, including the installation of the special surface for the game at Heichal Shlomo in Tel Aviv.
The Israeli team is also continuing regular preparations for the game, and it will hold a concluding training match against the reserve team tonight, after which coaches Oleg Botenko and Assaf Levy will determine the final squad for the game (the rematch is expected to take place on Sunday in Lithuania). The winner of the pair of games will face the Hungarian national team in the playoffs. Before the game, a farewell ceremony will be held for the former players of the Israeli team, Yoav Ne’eman and Omar Debda.
As you may recall, the Israeli team went through the first stage, in a tournament held in Romania, despite the blow of Corona and the lack of many key players who were found verified during the trip to the training match in Macedonia, and then in Romania itself.
In another matter, 21-year-old Yoav Lombroso has extended his contract at French Limousin – following a great season with impressive numbers – 128 assists and 67 goals in 20 Starlig games – one of the top two leagues in Europe. Lombroso, who has become a senior legionnaire in the current era, said in an interview: “I was interested in teams in the Champions League, as well as leading clubs in France. That I get a major role here in Limoges and play a lot of minutes, it helps me a lot in development. So far, I am very satisfied. “
By the way, one of the reasons for the contract extension is the club’s armament with a senior Spanish coach, who led Nantes to the Final Four of the Champions League, and the addition of two players from Barcelona for next season like increasing the budget. “The choice of the Spanish coach is a statement. The club is growing and developing. It took me a few months to decide, and they know my ambitions. We are building a big project for the future – and it is definitely a challenge.”
By the way, the one who may go to Europe next season is Nadav Cohen, the young corner player of the team that plays for Hapoel Rishon LeZion, and came to an agreement with a leading team in the second division in Germany (where Jonathan Dayan plays – recently signed by the mother). On the other hand, Nevo Medina, who played with Cohen until recently in the young team, and was due to leave next week to impress in Barcelona in order to join the Catalan club’s sub-team, will be forced to postpone the dream – after suffering a serious knee injury and will be out for a long time.