Maccabi Tel Aviv took off to Serbia this morning (Wednesday) ahead of the Group B home match against Ukrainan outfit Zorya Luhansk. The MD3 fixture was rescheduled from October 26th due to the war in Israel and reallocated to Backa Topola’s TSC Arena.

The players who spent the International break in Israel, arrived at Ben Gurion airport with Eran Zahavi and Sayid Abu Farchi who both represented the national and U19’s sides respectively. While Zahavi couldn’t help Israel beat Kosovo, Switzerland and Romania qualify directly from the group to the European Finals, Abu Farchi helped Israel advance to the European U19’s elite round.

Shortly after the players will land in Belgrade, they will reunite with the coaching staff and foreign players who arrived a day earlier. Following the 3-2 victory over Breidablik at Bloomfield in September, the 3-1 victory over Zorya in Poland earlier this month, and the 2-0 defeat to Gent which was sandwiched in between – Maccabi have 6 points. A victory against the Ukrainians in Serbia and a result against Breidablik in Iceland on Thursday, could set Robbie Keane’s side on course for qualification to the knockout phase.

Israel completed their EURO 2024 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Andorra. Four Maccabi first team players took part in the game with all of them experiencing a special night. Avishai Cohen, who made his first start for Israel and completed 90 minutes, marked his full international debut with an 81^st minute assist for the second goal which was scored by Gadi Kinda. Dor Peretz marked his 40^th international appearance for Israel by leading the team out for the first time with the captain’s armband. Gabi Kanichowsky, on his 13^th international appearance took-over the captain’s armband from Peretz when the 28-year-old bowed out on 61. Ofir Davidzada, making his 19^th appearance for Israel at left-back, was denied a debut goal for the national team by VAR.

Israel were handed another chance to reach the European finals after being drawn against Iceland for the March Playoffs with the winner facing the winner between Ukraine and Bosnia.

A Maccabi Tel Aviv side which consisted of 7 first team players and members of the youth team, suffered a 4-1 defeat to Maccabi Netanya in a friendly

Satnislav Bilensky put the hosts in front in the 19^th minute as he slotted home past Roi Mishpati. Six minutes into the second half Osher Davida teed-up Yonatan Cohen for the equaliser as he side footed the ball that beat Raz Karmi. Or Yitzhak replaced Mishpati in goal shortly before Netanya were awarded a penalty that Oz Bilu blasted in to restore Netanya’s lead. Ahmad Salman made it 3-1 as he fired Liran Rotman’s cross into the roof of the net on 74 before turning provider for Maxim Plakushchenko whose close range header on 79 proved too powerful for Yitzhak.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Roi Mishpati (Or Yitzhak 61), Sheran Yeini, Nir Bitton (Itay Malma 61), Adir Cordoba (Michael Merenstein 73), Amit Kradi (Roi Zarzavsky 71), Eyal Golasa, Ido Shahar Dan Biton (Amit Tzur 71), Yonatan Cohen, Osher Davida, Agam Hanun (Dor Goldstein 61).  

Tamir Nimrodi, a 19-year-old soldier, is celebrating his birthday today (Wednesday). But instead of spending it with his family, Tamir, is currently held hostage in Gaza since the terrorist attack of October 7th. In order to mark his son’s birthday, Tamir’s father, Alon, requested everyone who could fly a yellow balloon to do so. The Maccabi Foundation answered that call as the players took part of the initiative and released dozens of yellow balloons right after their morning session at Kiryat Shalom.

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Dor Peretz is a candidate for UEFA’s Conference League Player of the Week award after scoring two first-half headers in Maccabi’s 3-1 victory over Zorya Luhansk. The 28-year-old midfielder couldn’t hide his emotions as he spoke after the game about the month Israel has experienced since the attack of October 7th which began the war.

“These are feelings I can’t explain. Football gives you a moment of escapism from the reality back home as I hope we were able to give the citizens of Israel, the people who are protecting us, the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and the rest of the fans one moment of pleasure and maybe even a little pride. I would like to dedicate the victory to many families who experienced carnage, whether that be fans who were murdered or experienced horrific horrors that words just can’t describe. I really hope the Maccabi Tel Aviv family gave them something comforting this evening, restored a little pride and I hope we managed to represent Israel the way we wished ourselves before the game.”

Peretz, who managed to hide his tears yet kept his composure, summed up the feeling in the camp: “This match was a lot more than football. We came to represent our country, our emblem, citizens, soldiers, people kidnapped and held hostage. This is a situation our entire nation is experiencing and I just hope we managed to give them all one moment of peace and joy.”

Eran Zahavi didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, but the 36-year-old captain on the night who led the team put with an Israeli flag draped around his shoulders, said at the end of the match: “This victory is dedicated to the entire Israeli nation”. Zahavi, who captained the Maccabi side that beat Zorya Luhansk 3-1 in the Conference League at the Lublin arena in Poland, added: “Obviously there were happier victories and circumstances which were a lot more normal in terms of our country. Overall, this victory was extremely important, especially as we were able to give a moment of joy for everyone who was watching us back home.”

On the various gestures the club and the players did for those who were murdered and killed on and since October 7th as well as the 240 kidnapped who are still held hostage in Gaza, Zahavi said: “Before walking on the pitch we decided to do something at the start of tne game, to point at the ribbon that said 240 kidnapped. We hope they will return home which was extremely important for us to get that message across. There are mixed emotions and the feelings are not simple, including playing at the same time that our country is in a state of war and experiencing difficult times. We had to come here and do a job – to show our mental strength, not to crumble under pressure and continue to do what we need to do. I just hope we managed to make people back home happy.”

On the meaning of playing football these days and ahead of the international break, Zahavi, who will return to the national team set-up after a one-year-absence, added: “We have been through a lot in the past month, we met with many people who were evacuated, kids, we tried to do good and cheer them up to the best of our ability. Clearly now the task ahead is the national team which is the most important thing. Maybe that will cheer our nation up, bring a little bit of joy and hopefully we could do it. It’s the task of our lives.”