The Israeli national team held a training session this evening (Monday) for the home game against Albania on Saturday (9:45 p.m.), as part of the group stage of the Nations League. A victory will elevate Alon Hazan and his players to the head of the house and give them a ticket to the playoffs for promotion to the Euro.
Ramzi Spuri came to the gathering, held a training session and felt good after being injured in Hapoel Beer Sheva’s game against Bnei Sakhnin yesterday. The midfielder should be fit for the important game in Bloomfield against Albania, which also has quite a few shortcomings. The place of Miguel Vitor, Eli Desa and Shawn Goldberg seems to be guaranteed in the defense, while regarding the link and the attack, Hazan is in great doubt and will make decisions after this week’s training.
A member of the national team said this evening: “It won’t be easy at all. There are many injured and absent, 5-6 of the team players from the previous gathering are not with us, but everyone is motivated and believes that it is possible and necessary to win.”
Forward Sean Weissman stood in front of the microphones before the start of practice. “To be the first striker? Whatever the professional team decides. I’m here for the team and I’ll do everything to win and finish first,” said the Valladolid player. “It’s fun to be interviewed in Hebrew, I haven’t spoken Hebrew in a long time, it’s fun and thank God I’m healthy and the injury is behind me, I hope to do everything necessary.”
Weissman continued: “Whoever is here is the best in the country, the team chose him carefully and deserves everyone’s language. I believe that we will do what is assigned to us and with God’s help we will do it and we will succeed. The disadvantages? Unfortunately this is a part of life, some are injured, some are removed and we have to deal with what is there , we have no way to change it and I really think that Mime Shepa is really the best and most deserving, and can fill the place properly.”
Weissman, whose responsibility has increased due to the absence of Eran Zahavi, who as I recall was not called up due to the room affair, said: “I don’t feel pressure, I was waiting for this moment when I could be the first striker, if I really will be the first striker. I love playing football, that’s what I know do from a young age and I will continue to do it for as many years as I can.”
At the end, the striker referred to the opponent on Saturday, which the Israeli national team beat 1:2 away in the current campaign: “We showed that we can beat Albania, that we are a good team. We will do everything to come prepared. I would love to see a lot of flags here in Bloomfield and it will be a great experience, we are looking forward to it, I believe in the team very much. Manor Solomon? It’s a shame, this is an opportunity to wish him a full recovery and a speedy return, it sucks for him and we all would like him to be here, and I hope he gets healthy as soon as possible.”