Israel:

The Israel national team ended their Nations League A campaign bottom of Group 2 but with two impressive results. Israel salvaged an impressive 0-0 draw at the Stade de France in Paris before recording the first victory of the campaign beating Belgium 1-0 at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest, Hungary.

Idan Nachmias, Raz Shlomo Sagiv Jehezkel and Dor Turgeman were all starters against France with Dor Peretz making a substitute appearance. Nachmias, Shlomo and Dor Peretz started against Belgium while Turgeman remained on the bench and Jehezkel serving a one-match suspension. Goalkeeper Roi Mishpati was an unused substitute on both matches.

Nemanja Stojic:

26-year-old Serbian central defender, Nemanja Stojic, made a 45-minute substitute appearance in his country’s 1-1 draw away to Switzerland. Stojic, was an unused substitute in the 0-0 home draw against Denmark which saw Serbia finish Group 4 in 3^rd place.

Tyrese Asante:

The Dutch defender completed 90 minutes for Holland’s U21 side that ended their friendly match with England U21 in a 1-1 draw. Earlier in the week, Asante was an unused substitute in Holland’s U21 friendly against Slovakia that ended in a 3-3 draw.

 

Roi Mishpati, celebrated his call-up to the Israel national team squad with a fifth clean of the season and a seventh victory in the league as Maccabi beat Bnei Sakhnin 4-0 at Acco.

After the match, the 31-year-old keeper said after the match: “The victory was extremely important for us after what happened in the last few days” Mishpati said. “It was important for us to do that at especially at a match which was played behind closed doors with no fans in attendance and with no atmosphere, as we knew they are watching us from home and wanted to make them as happy as possible. We all experienced very complex days recently. I am just glad that everyone returned to Israel safely.”

Mishpati gave an insight into how the players saw things during the tough night in Amsterdam: “We returned to our team hotel after the match and the players’ phones were just bombarded with messages. Yoav Ziv, our Team Manager set up a Headquarters and tried to assist fans as much as possible. On our flight back home we also added as many fans as we could. It wasn’t a minor issue, but the Jewish nation is being hunted and I am really relieved everyone returned home safe. I just hope that action will be taken against the perpetrators.”

On the atmosphere in the build-up ahead of the match against Sakhnin, Mishpati who was in goal as Maccabi suffered four defeats in succession said: “We had a lot of motivation to win here tonight, especially after our recent results but also after what happened in Holland. I felt the players after the final practice session, at the hotel, and in the dressing room – we just exploded. I am delighted it came at this match.”

On his first ever call-up to the Israel national team, Mishpati said: “There isa no one happier than me to be part of the nation al team squad. Every player dreams of making it to the national team and just to tick that box. I will just give everything I have got once I am there.

Gabi Kanichowsky captained Maccabi on a night the team ended a run of four successive defeats and a traumatic trip to Amsterdam by beating Bnei Sakhnin 4-0 behind closed doors in Acco.

The 27-year-old midfielder who set up one of the goals in Maccabi’s seventh victory of the season, said at the end of the match: “What we experienced last week was extremely difficult, my heart goes out to the fans. Even my brother was there,” Kanikowsky said of the shocking scenes the team and fans experienced in Amsterdam, “It is really complex days for the fans as it was important for us to show that everything was fine and that we are with them. Even at a tough match, to step down from the highest stage to a match behind closed doors – I am just happy that the entire team did a good job today.”

“What we had seen and experienced, the fans, the families, experienced things I really don’t remember,” he added, “It is tough but I’m happy that everyone returned home safely. You see the pictures and feel helpless but I’m happy that they returned home and that we won for them.”

On the team has been coping with the situation, Kanichowsky added: “”We spoke with each other that we’re obviously tired, but the mental side of things is the most powerful. We said that this is a game which is played in our minds and I’m glad we proved it. With all the hardships and all that we have been through, I’m delighted we did it.”

Kanichowsky hit back at those who disrespected Maccabi following the recent result: “We are always eulogized, but we are still joint top and have the same number of points as Beitar Jerusalem. We have a crazy overload, a new team and a new coach. But let them talk. We’re doing our part and that’s the most important thing.”

Kanichowsky paid tribute to fellow midfielder Joris van Overeem who scored his debut goal for Maccabi: “I am delighted for Joris, after he scored his first goal for Maccabi. I am really happy for him.”

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the municipal stadium in Acco for the MD10 WINNER League match away to Bnei Sakhnin with a bid to bounce back from the recent result and return to winning ways. Zarko Lazetic’s side which suffered a 5-0 defeat away to Ajax in the Europa League on Thursday, lost their last four outings. A victory against in-form Sakhnin that ended Beitar Jerusalem’s 6-match unbeaten run, will send Maccabi into the international break on a high.

Lazetic made several changes from side that lost in Amsterdam as Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic lined-up as the two central defenders. Stav Lemkin on the right and Sagiv Jehezkel on the left completed Maccabi’s back-four in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Joris van Overeem returned to the anchorman role while Gabi Kanichowsky captained the side while Wessley Patati made his second league start to complete the midfield trio. Osher Davida returned to the squad after serving his one-match-touchline ban and was positioned on one wing with Henry Addo on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman led the line aiming to add to his tally of 3 league goals and 7 in all competitions this season.

Alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Lazetic named Idan Nachias, Eran Zahavi, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar and Dor Peretz.

First Half

With a strange backdrop of an empty Akko stadium, the birds on the roof of the main stand were the only noise competing with the players on the pitch. Wessley Patati who has yet to open his account, looked sharp in the opening stages as his shot was spilled by Mohamad Abu Nil for a corner. Several minutes later, the Brazilian winger came closer as his shot struck the base of the post. In the 23rd minute Patati was rewarded for his efforts as the 21-year-old’s shot come cross from the corner of the area eluded everyone including Abu Nil to open the score.

Maccabi doubled their lead six minutes later as Gabi Kanichowsky found himself with time and space on the right to find Dor Turgeman with an accurate pass before the striker swept the ball home.

Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action on 39 as a Mathew Cudjoe left foot drive forced Maccabi’s keeper to stretch himself and punch the ball out.

Second Half

With no changes at the after the break, Maccabi began the second half just like they did with the first pressing Sakhnin right from the off. Two minutes after the restart Maccabi increased the lead to three at the end of a spectacular team effort. Patati picked the ball deep inside Maccabi’s half and charged towards the halfway line before releasing Osher Davida down the left flank. Davida burst forward before squaring to Turgeman who slipped the ball to Henry Addo. The Ghanian still had his work cut out as he took the ball around the keeper and fired home his debut league goal and third in all competitions,

Five minutes after the hour mark, Lazetic, made a triple substitution as Sagiv Jehezkel, Kanichowsky and Davida all bowed out and were replaced by Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho and Dor Peretz. Lazetic was dismissed by referee Yigal Frid who booked him twice in the space of a minute for dissent on 69. In the 70th minute Maccabi scored the fourth from the unlikeliest of sources as Turgeman’s pressure on Abu Nil earned him the ball before the striker squared for Joris van Overeem. The 30-year-old Dutch born midfielder who hasn’t scored a goal since joining Maccabi in the summer of 2022 fired home to mark his 85th appearance for the club with a goal. Eran Zahavi and Hisham Layous replaced Addo and Turgeman for the closing stages as Maccabi completed their five substitutions in the 74th minute..