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Israel national under-21 football team
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התכולים-לבנים (The Skyblue and Whites)
(Xanthi, Greece; 21 November 1990) (Herzliya, Israel; 26 October 1993) (Herzliya, Israel; 13 October 1998) 0–4 (Groningen, Netherlands; 16 June 2007) 0–4 (Tel Aviv, Israel; 8 June 2013)
|Israel national under-23 football team}} The Israel national under-21 football team () is the national under-21 football team of Israel, and is controlled by the Israel Football Association (IFA). It is considered to be the feeder team for the senior Israel national football team.
This team consists of Israeli players aged 21 or under at the start of each two-year UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign, so players can be, and often are, up to 23 years old. Team members may also simultaneously qualify to various teams for Under-20s (for non-UEFA tournaments), Under-19s and Under 17s, or even the senior national team, so long as theymeet the respective age restriction. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and another at senior level (provided the player is eligible).
The U-21 team has been constructed following Israel's acceptance as a full member of UEFA. A draw in a qualifier against Greece in Greece was Israel U-21s' first fixture during the early 1990s.
Israel U-21s do not have a permanent home. They play in stadia dotted all around Israel in an attempt to encourage fans in all areas of the country to support the team. Because of the lesser interest compared to the senior national team, smaller grounds are usually used (such as HaMoshava Stadium in Petah Tikva, Israel).
The team qualified for the European Championships for the first time in 2007, reaching the final stage held in the Netherlands, after beating the French Under-21 team 2–1 on aggregate.
Competitive history
There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. European U-21 teams compete for the European Championship, with the finals every even-numbered year. It will be held in odd-numbered years from 2007. Israel has never fared well in European Under-21 Football Championships.
The current campaign started shortly after the 2006 finals – the qualification stage of the 2007 competition. UEFA have decided to shift the next tournament forward to avoid a clash with senior tournaments taking place in even-numbered years. The competition has therefore been reduced as qualifying must be completed in a year's less time. In their three-team qualification group, Israel finished ahead of Turkey and Wales. In the two-legged play-off against France for a place in the final stage, the team achieved a surprising 1–1 draw in France, and won the home match 1–0, with Amir Taga scoring in stoppage time.
Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.
Competitive record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
| UEFA U-21 Championship Record | Qualification record | Year | Round | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Total | 3/17 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 18 | - | 148 | 64 | 32 | 52 | 233 | 185 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe 1992 | Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FRA 1994 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ESP 1996 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROU 1998 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SVK 2000 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUI 2002 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GER 2004 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POR 2006 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NED 2007 | Group Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | Squad | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SWE 2009 | Did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DEN 2011 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Israel 2013 | Group Stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | Squad | Qualified as host | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CZE 2015 | Did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| POL 2017 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITA SMR 2019 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HUN SVN 2021 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROU GEO 2023 | Semi-final | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | Squad | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SVK 2025 | Did not qualify | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 18 |
2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Qualifiers – Group B
Main article: 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group D
Qualifiers play-offs
Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification play-offs
The four play-off winners qualify for the final tournament.
|}
2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship group stage (Final tournament)
Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship#Group_C
Knockout stage
Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship#Knockout_stage
In the knockout stage, extra time and a penalty shoot-out are used to decide the winners if necessary. As France qualified as hosts and England are ineligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics, their results will be used to determine whether an Olympic play-off match would be required and who would participate.
Bracket
Main article: 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship#Bracket
|1 July – Boris Paichadze Stadium ||0 (3)| |0 (4) |2 July – Ramaz Shengelia Stadium ||1||0 |1 July – Stadionul Rapid-Giulești | |2||1 |2 July – Cluj Arena ||1||3
|5 July – Adjarabet Arena ||0||3 |5 July – Stadionul Steaua ||5||1
|8 July – Adjarabet Arena ||1||0
Results and fixtures
2022
Qualifiers play-offs
Play-off 1st leg](2023-uefa-european-under-21-championship-qualification-play-offs)
- Ferguson
- Gorno Play-off 2nd leg](2023-uefa-european-under-21-championship-qualification-play-offs)
- Karzev
- Peretz
- Cohen
- Davida
- Coventry
- Wright
- Ferguson
- Devoy 1–1 on aggregate. Israel has won 3–1 on penalties, and therefore has qualified for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
2023
- Bisseck
- Turgeman
- Gordon
- Smith Rowe
- Gandelman
Quarter-finals](2023-uefa-european-under-21-championship-quarter-finals)
- Azarovi
- Davitashvili
- Gagua
- Moistsrapishvili
- Khvadagiani
- Cohen
- Gandelman
- Khalaily
- Gloukh
Semi-finals](2023-uefa-european-under-21-championship-semi-finals)
- Gibbs-White
- Palmer
- Archer Israel has qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Coaching staff
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- Maccabi Haifa defender Lisav Naif Eissat was also called up. On 2 September 2025, his request to switch international allegiance to Romania was approved by FIFA.
Recent call-ups
The following players have previously been called up to the Israel under-21 squad in the last 12 months and remain eligible for selection.
INJ Withdrew due to injury or illness
PRE Preliminary/extended squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension due to either a red card, or two accumulated yellow cards
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to neither injury nor illness issue
U21 Player withdrew from the squad to play for the national under-21 team
--
Records
Most capped players
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Career | U-21 Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arik Benado | Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem | 1992–1995 | 39 |
| 2 | Nir Sivilia | Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem | 1993–1997 | 34 |
| 2 | Shay Holtzman | Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Haifa, Tzafririm Holon | 1992–1995 | 34 |
| 3 | Dekel Keinan | Maccabi Haifa, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Netanya | 2003–2007 | 30 |
| 4 | Alon Halfon | Maccabi Netanya, Hapoel Haifa | 1993–1995 | 29 |
| 4 | Tom Almadon | Maccabi Haifa | 2004–2007 | 29 |
| 5 | Ofer Talker | Maccabi Ironi Ashdod, Hapoel Haifa | 1992–1995 | 28 |
| 6 | Ofir Kopel | Maccabi Haifa | 1994–1997 | 27 |
| 7 | Lior Jan | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2006–2008 | 26 |
| 8 | Moshe Ohayon | Ashdod | 2001–2005 | 24 |
Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s. Those players in bold are still eligible to play for the team.
Leading goalscorers
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Career | U-21 Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alon Mizrahi | Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv | 1992–1993 | 15 |
| 2 | Shay Holtzman | Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Haifa, Tzafririm Holon | 1992–1995 | 14 |
| 3 | Mu'nas Dabbur | Maccabi Tel Aviv, Grasshopper | 2011–2014 | 13 |
| 4 | Nir Sivilia | Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, Beitar Jerusalem | 1993–1997 | 12 |
| 5 | Ben Sahar | Chelsea, Espanyol | 2007–2010 | 8 |
| 5 | Maor Buzaglo | Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2007–2010 | 8 |
| 6 | Eli Abarbanel | Hapoel Petah Tikva | 1994–1999 | 7 |
| 6 | Amir Turgeman | Ironi Ashdod | 1992–1993 | 7 |
Note: Club(s) represents the permanent clubs during the player's time in the Under-21s. Those players in bold are still eligible to play for the team.
References
References
- Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs publication [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern%20History/Israel%20at%2050/The%20Flag%20and%20the%20Emblem The Flag and the Emblem] {{webarchive. link. (2007-04-17 by art historian Alec Mishory, wherein he quotes "The Provisional Council of State Proclamation of the Flag of the State of Israel" made on 28 October 1948 by Joseph Sprinzak, Speaker.)
- (February 2022)
- (February 2022)
- "2021–23 UEFA European Under-21 Championship regulations". UEFA.
- {{UEFA match attendance. 2036125. Germany vs. Israel. (22 June 2023)
- {{UEFA match attendance. 2036135. England vs. Israel. (25 June 2023)
- {{UEFA match attendance. 2036142. Israel vs. Czech Republic. (28 June 2023)
- {{UEFA match attendance. 2036146. Georgia vs. Israel. (1 July 2023)
- {{UEFA match attendance. 2036150. WQF1 vs. WQF2. (5 July 2023)
- "Israel Football Association - U21 National Team - Team Staff".
- (21 May 2025). "יונה, דאפאאה וטוקלומטי בסגל הצעירה לבולגריה". ONE.
- "FIFA Change of Association Platform". [[FIFA]].
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