Maccabi Tel Aviv's Omri Ben Harush and Eran Zahavi were in the starting line-up for the Israeli national team's friendly against Slovakia. Barak Levi and Dor Micha participated in Young Israel's 0-1 triumph in Holland
For eight Maccabi Tel Aviv players, the international break from league obligations was no break at all as they turned up for duty for the Israel national squads for the friendly matches that were held yesterday. Prior to the senior team's home encounter with Slovakia, defender Eytan Tibi and team captain Sheran Yeini were both released from the squad due to injuries. Midfielder Eran Zahavi and defender Omri Ben Harush were in the starting line-up but could not prevent the senior national side from losing 1-3 to Slovakia in Netanya. Ben Harush was substituted at half time, Zahavi just before the hour mark. Maccabi midfielder Mahran Radi remained on the bench.
Israel's Under-21s took off for Holland on Monday to play an international friendly against their Dutch counterparts. Maccabi goalkeeper Barak Levi and midfielder Dor Micha both opened for the Young Israel side in a match that ended in an impressive 0-1 Israeli victory. Midfielder Omri Altman, also capped for the squad, was not in the starting line-up. The Under-21s are at the height of their 2015 European Championship qualifying campaign, with their next official match scheduled for August in the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia. Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Paulo Sousa, already in Europe for a charity game on behalf of typhoon victims in the Philippines, attended the Israel Under-21 match against Holland, held at the TATA Steel Stadium in the Dutch town of Velsen.
