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The Israeli National Football Team (Hebrew: נבחרת ישראל בכדורגל) is the national football team of Israel and is controlled by the Israel Football Association.
The Israel Football Association (IFA) was founded under the name Palestine Football Association (PFA) in 1928, 20 years before the establishment of the state of Israel at the end of the British Mandate of Palestine. The PFA was accepted as a full member of FIFA in 1929. The PFA first dealt with local leagues, but later also managed the national team that was created to participate in the World Cup qualifications (participating in 1934 and 1938 as the Palestine/Eretz Yisrael national team).
Israel has taken part in three different continents: Asia, Europe and Oceania in the Football World Cup qualifiers, before settling in Europe as a member of UEFA in 1994.
The Israeli side qualified for their only FIFA World Cup to date in 1970.
[edit] History
[edit] Before independence
Palestine played its first official game in 1934 in the world cup qualifiers losing 1-7 to Egypt. The team's first goal ever was scored by Avraham Nudelmann. Upon creation of the State of Israel in 1948, IFA became the official association of the new state. The Israel national team's first game as an independent state was on September 26, 1948, against the USA (result: 1-3 to the USA).
[edit] Asian history
Israel initially competed in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), although due to their ongoing geopolitical situation many Asian nations often refused to compete against Israel. This meant that they mainly competed in European (UEFA) or Oceanian (OFC) World Cup qualifying tournaments. In 1964 Israel hosted and won the Asian Nations Cup. In 1968 Israel went to their first Olympic Games and lost to Bulgaria in the quarter-finals. In 1970 Israel qualified for their first and only World Cup, via Oceania, but only got two points after draws with Sweden and finalist Italy and a loss to Uruguay.
In 1976, Israel went to their second Olympic Games and lost in the quarter-finals again, this time against Brazil. In 1972 and 1977 they attempted World Cup qualification as part of Asia, which both times ended in failure.
[edit] Years in exile
In 1974, Israel had left the AFC as their position within it became untenable.[clarification needed] During the 1980s they played their majority of matches against European teams, and competed in the European leg of qualification for the 1982 World Cup. For the next two tournaments they entered the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification groups and in 1989, Israel made it to the playoffs of WC Italy 1990 to play against Colombia, who qualified from the South American group, but lost (1-0, 0-0).
[edit] European history
In 1991 Israeli clubs began participating in European club competitions and Israel returned to the European leg of World Cup qualifying in 1992, notably winning 3-2 in Paris against France in 1993. In 1994, Israel received full UEFA membership, twenty years since they had left Asia.[1] Within Europe, Israel have been a relatively minor nation, though with some successes. In 1999, Israel made it to the playoffs of Euro 2000, but was beaten by Denmark.
In 2006 World Cup qualifying, Israel finished third in European zone Group Four behind France and Switzerland despite being unbeaten in their 10 matches after four wins and six draws, and failed to qualify for the finals. Coach Avraham Grant announced his resignation on 26 October 2005. After the end of his contract he was succeeded by Dror Kashtan. In UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying, Israel finished fourth in group E, behind Croatia, Russia and England. The 3-4 home loss to Croatia was the first loss after 13 consecutive official games and 9 home games without a loss. Although Israel failed to qualify, Israel advanced in the world ranking, which led Israel to pot 2 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification draw. The continued presence of the Israeli Football Association in UEFA was a precedent cited by Australia to justify its transfer from Oceania to the Asian Football Federation.
[edit] Competition history
| Year |
Round |
Position |
GP |
W |
D* |
L |
GS |
GA |
 1930 |
Did Not Enter |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1934 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1938 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1950 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1954 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1958 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1962 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1966 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1970 |
Round One |
13th |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
 1974 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1978 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1982 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1986 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1990 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 1994 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 1998 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
  2002 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2006 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[edit] Asian Cup record
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D* |
L |
GS |
GA |
| AFC Asian Cup |
 1956 |
Second place |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
| 1960 |
Second place |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
 1964 |
Champions |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
 1968 |
Third place |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
11 |
5 |
| Total |
1Titlle |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
28 |
15 |
Israel did not compete in a regional competition between the years 1968 and 1996
[edit] European Championship record
| Year |
Round |
GP |
W |
D* |
L |
GS |
GA |
| European Championship |
| 1996 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
  2000 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2004 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
 2008 |
Did Not Qualify |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Date |
Venue |
Opponents |
Score¹ |
Competition |
Israel scorers |
| 26 March 2008 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
Chile |
1-0
|
F |
Yossi Benayoun |
| 20 August 2008 |
Ratina Stadion, Tampere (A) |
 Finland |
0-2
|
F |
|
| 6 September 2008 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
Switzerland |
2-2
|
WCQ |
Yossi Benayoun, Ben Sahar |
| 10 September 2008 |
Zimbru Stadium, Chisinau (A) |
 Moldova |
2-1
|
WCQ |
Omer Golan, Klemi Saban |
| 11 October 2008 |
Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg (A) |
 Luxembourg |
3-1
|
WCQ |
Yossi Benayoun, Omer Golan, Salim Tuama |
| 15 October 2008 |
Skonto Stadions, Riga (A) |
 Latvia |
1-1
|
WCQ |
Yossi Benayoun |
| 19 November 2008 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
 Côte d'Ivoire |
2-2
|
F |
Elyaniv Barda, Omer Golan |
| 11 February 2009 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
 Hungary |
|
F |
|
| 28 March 2009 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
 Greece |
|
WCQ |
|
| 1 April 2009 |
Greece (A) |
Greece |
|
WCQ |
|
| 5 September 2009 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
Latvia |
|
WCQ |
|
| 9 September 2009 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
Luxembourg |
|
WCQ |
|
| 10 October 2009 |
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan (H) |
Moldova |
|
WCQ |
|
| 14 October 2009 |
Stade de Suisse, Berne (A) |
Switzerland |
|
WCQ |
|
- Key
- ¹ = Israeli score shown first
- H = Home match
- A = Away match
- F = Friendly
- WCQ = World Cup Qualifier
[edit] Current squad
Caps and goals correct as of September 11, 2008.
[edit] Starting eleven
[edit] Recent callups
The following players have all recently been called up to the Israel squad.
[edit] Player history
[edit] Most capped players
[edit] Top scorers
[edit] Player records
-
[edit] Managers
[edit] Palestine/Eretz Yisrael managers
[edit] Israel managers
Dror Kashtan (2006-)
Egypt 7 - 1 Palestine/Eretz Israel 
1930.svg){kind=small}
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974.svg){kind=small}
1978
1982
1990
1994
2002
2010
1956
1968.svg){kind=small}
2000
2004
Vladislav Scali