Israel's national Under-17 team finished off their campaign in the qualifying rounds of the European championships with a resounding 8-0 victory over Lichtenstein at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan. Seven of those eight goals were scored by Maccabi Tel Aviv's young stars: five by striker Raz Itzhak (4', 28', 29', 33', 62') and a brace by midfielder Eilon Yerushalmi (15', 78'). The eighth goal was scored by Ashdod FC midfielder Eden Hershkovich three minutes into the second half. As impressive as this display was, it failed to catapult head coach Ofer Fabian's youngsters into the elite round of the competition. Fellow group 3 contenders France beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to top the group with seven points, one point ahead of the second-placed Czechs and three points ahead of Israel, who finished third after losing to the Czechs and drawing with France.
Israel's national Under-17 squad: goalkeeper – Tamir Lalo (Maccabi Tel Aviv); defenders – Shay Ben David (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Daniel Bosi (Bnei Yehuda), Itzik Shulmeister (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Asaf Levi (Maccabi Petah Tikva); midfielders – Rani Hamza (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Eden Hershkovich (Ashdod FC), Dor Galili (Ashdod FC), Eilon Yerushalmi (Maccabi Tel Aviv); forwards – Aviyahu Ezer (Maccabi Petah Tikva), Raz Itzhak (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Substitutions: midfielder Ofek Maron (Beitar Tubruk, 41'), defender Noam Gamon (Hapoel Beer Sheva, 52'), midfielder Eitan Waldblum (Maccabi Haifa, 60')
Photograph courtesy of the Israel Football Association website
