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    • Maccabi Tel Aviv to play against France after Amsterdam attack – Israel Sports
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    Maccabi Tel Aviv to play against France after Amsterdam attack – Israel Sports

    Sakege Posted on

    He The Israeli team will play against France in Paris on Thursday night and in Belgium on Sunday in their final two games of the Nations League campaign.

    To date, Ran Ben Shimon’s side have struggled against some of the best teams not only in Europe but around the world, as the blue and white look to secure their first points in Nations League A Group 2 action.

    Israel will be under the world’s attention after Attacks on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans last week after the club’s Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam. A strong police presence will accompany the team and will patrol both the city of Paris and the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. He Israel National Security Council has advised fans not to attend the match due to continuing threats of attacks by copycats in France, Belgium and major cities in Britain.

    Before traveling to Paris, Ben Shimon spoke about his squad, the upcoming challenges, the security situation and the brutal attack in Amsterdam.

    “The horrible events that occurred in Amsterdam were unimaginable. They were very difficult moments to witness and, like everything we have experienced over the past year, nothing surprises me anymore. “We are a strong nation and we will get through this,” Ben Shimon said.

    Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters demonstrate and light flares as a police officer patrols the area in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Nov. 7, 2024, in this screenshot obtained from a social media video. (credit: Michel Van Bergen/via REUTERS)

    He continued: “Even traveling to France, I feel pretty safe. We are always accompanied by great security forces and they are incredible people. Right now I’m more worried about France’s attack on the field than anything that could happen off it. I feel very safe walking with the Israel National Team logo. We hope everything is fine.”

    Addressing fans who plan to attend despite the warnings, Ben Shimon shared his perspective.

    “One of the most amazing aspects of the Israel national team is our incredible fans. On the other hand, these are human lives and all instructions from the National Security Council or other agencies must be followed. However, ultimately this is out of my hands.”

    He added: “I was at the Olympics this summer in France and saw the large Jewish community and the Israeli fans. It really warmed my heart. But the most important thing is the safety of the fans.”

    French President Macron could attend the game

    “It is a great honor that the French president can come to watch the game,” commented Ben Shimon. “We hope he makes better decisions regarding Israel in the future. For us, it’s about focusing on the field and representing the State of Israel with pride.”

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    Ben Shimon has been working diligently with the team over the past few months to find the right combination of players ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, which begin in early 2025. He has used the group stage of the Nations League as a testing ground to achieve this goal.

    The coach made some changes compared to previous windows, calling up players who were injured, such as Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and Leeds United midfielder Manor Solomon. It also introduced new faces such as Nikita Stoyanov and Yarden Shua, while recalling Dia Saba, Roie Mishpati and Dean David. They will join key players including Liel Abada, Oscar Gloukh, Dor Peretz and captain Eli Dasa, who missed the last window due to injury.

    Ben Shimon, who has yet to score any points in the campaign, is focused on achieving that goal.

    “We would really like to score some points in this window. But sometimes, even without points, you gain something valuable from these games. We were clear that this group would be a challenge, but I am confident that we are building something significant for the future.”

    He added: “We’ve scored in all four games, so we’ve been playing offensively rather than too defensively. Before each window, I carefully consider the team and select the players who will contribute, not necessarily just the best, but also those who will connect well with the team. The players here are the most important and are ready for this battle, a sporting battle, since the real battle is fought by our heroic soldiers.”

    This window includes a mix of new and returning players. Ben Shimon commented on some specific selections.

    “In the last window, there was a mistake in not calling up Dean David, but now he is here because he deserves it due to his physical condition. The number of minutes he plays was not a factor in the decision.

    “Dia Saba is in excellent form in the Israeli league. “One of our goals for the Nations League is to find players who can help us in the future, and we have done that.”

    Calling up Yarden Shua for the first time, Ben Shimon said: “Yarden is in good shape and is worthy of the National Team. “I was excited to be called and that’s how it should be.”

    Without a natural left back in the team, Ben Shimon will need to be creative in his lineup.

    “Sean Goldberg can play left back and we have quick full backs who can adapt. “There are solutions within the campus,” he stated.

    Bayern Munich’s Peretz, returning from injury, was another key inclusion.

    “Daniel Peretz plays for one of the biggest clubs in the world. “He is currently our first-choice goalkeeper, but we also have excellent options in this position, including Sherif Kayuf and Omri Glazer.”

    Solomon returns after a year of injuries, while Gloukh returns for the third consecutive window. Ben Shimon praised their efforts.

    “Manor is working hard to reintegrate into the team and I see him as part of this team for the long term. “Oscar was incredible in the last window and I am very pleased with his progress.”

    Finally, Ben Shimon reflected on the overall growth of the team.

    “This squad is capable of adding more than one point. We knew from the beginning that this group would be difficult, but our goal is to build something strong for the future. I like the attitude of the players and what they have achieved so far. “I have gained valuable knowledge that will help us move forward.”



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