Looking to build an identity: Ran Ben Shimon readies for Israel National Team clashes against Belgium and Italy

Aug 29, 2024 | Football

The Israel National Team will begin their Nations League campaign next Friday night when they face Belgium which will be followed up by a matchup against Italy as new Head Coach Ran Ben Shimon will begin his first stint in charge of the blue-and-white. While the Belgium game is their home match, due to security concerns the contest will take place at the Nagyerdei Stadionin in Debrecen, Hungary while Israel’s home game versus Italy will be played at the Bozsik Aréna in Budapest due to the ongoing war with Hamas.

With Ben Shimon taking over the reins of the squad, the new bench boss made various roster changes in order to make his mark on the team and ensure that they will play competitive football throughout his first campaign in charge. After naming his squad ahead of the upcoming pair of matches, Ben Shimon spoke about a myriad of topics but began by giving his vision as to how he wants to see the team prepare going forward.


“The most important experience I gained since taking over as the head coach of the Israel National Team and training with the team is that getting everyone together once every three to four months, for three to four days, will lead us nowhere. One of the main goals is for the team to play like a team. This requires me to be in continuous contact with the players, trying to strengthen the various areas of the squad, conveying things through direct meetings as well as meeting online to discuss philosophy, what I am demanding of them and in order for this to work we need to be in contact on a regular basis.”

Ben Shimon will attempt to have a more successful run as head coach than his predecessors and will need to see his philosophy accepted and implemented by the players, “My demands will be very high and every time we do get together we will see what we did, what was, how and what can be improved. There will be no investigations and no searching for culprits, we will constantly be thinking about procedures and progress. We know the strength of our opponents in the Nations League, but regardless of that we have several goals. First of all, I want to test our abilities, we want to see good football and a team that is difficult to play against. We will need to do this in order to build an identity and DNA of a team that is difficult to play against and one that has a clear identity about what it is.”

“Another aspect is no mental breakdowns. There will be no down moments and hanging our heads during the game but always positive body language and a show of courage. Thirdly, I want to see who will follow my lead, what material they are made of and which players will implement our tactics. I want to see who are the players who relate to values and our norms on and off the pitch. We want to create a cohesive team, trusting each other and an openness to receive criticism. One of the things that I particularly miss is the connection with the fans. I will never forget that as a player, the happiness I had when riding on the bus and seeing everyone going to the game wrapped in Israeli flags.

Due to the security situation, both games will be played away from home with Belgium having concerns about keeping the team safe in their country, while UEFA will not allow Israel to play in the Holy Land until the war with Hamas and Hezbollah comes to an end.

Israel National Team – Photo credit: IFA


“The thought that there could have been 30,000 supporters at every game in the Nations League is very painful and I want to thank everyone who will come to see us in Hungary as well. I know there are some and I would love to see them but I will most certainly appreciate those who will sit in front of their television’s cheering us on. I woke up this morning very excited as we have expectations and we have been working hard building the team and selecting the players in order to give our country a team that we can all be connected to.”

There is no question that Ben Shimon will be missing a number of players at a variety of positons, but nonetheless, he is counting on those who will be featuring in the two games. “I am aware of the complexities and I took it upon myself right from the beginning not to complain about anything. There will be injuries, absences, that’s what it is. There are outstanding players and I believe very much in this squad and in this generation and we will find solutions from within the squad. I called upon players who will make the best squad and all of the players are very enthusiastic and can’t wait to play for the national team. I hope that all of the injured players will return to action as soon as possible, but this is the squad that we have and the one we will go into battle with.”

Eran Zahavi, who is one of the most lethal scorers in the country’s history was not called up for this window of games but may still be an important part of the squad in the near future. “I have great respect for Eran and a very good relationship. We decided together that he will not announce his retirement and that he will be available to the national team upon request. There are strikers in the squad, but Eran will always be welcome. I have enormous respect for him and everything our relationship is one that is open.”

Manor Solomon – Photo Credit: IFA


Manor Solomon, who just was loaned out to Leeds United from Tottenham Hotspur will be back in action after quite a lengthy time injured and will have an important role, while in goal, Ben Shimon will go with some inexperienced players, “Manor will have a central role in order to reach the places I want, hope and dream of. As for the goalkeepers, I have a direction which I reserve the right not to share, But I will see all three of them in training and then make a decision. Maccabi Tel Aviv keeper Roi Mishpati played for me in Ashdod along with Yoav Gerafi who is a part of the squad. Mishpati is part of my thinking for future call-ups but this was my professional decision.”

Ben Shimon continued: “All of the players that were called into training camp are candidates for the squad. I have great respect for every player that is invited and I am going to see them week after week and I will continue to do that. I invited the players I think most deserve to be in the squad. It is important for me to see that we can have the best team and while the results are important they are not the priority. We are a competitive team and I think we will also be surprised in ourselves, but first of all we need to produce a team that is a team, that understands what the approach is and that we see a constant process of progress.”

Belgium based Omri Gandelman, who is playing with Gent, had not been called into camp under the previous national team head coach Alon Hazan will be given every opportunity to make an impact under Ben Shimon.

“He is playing incredibly and is having an amazing period of time right now. I will use him as needed but I won’t yet commit that he will be playing on the defensive side or on the attack as I have some tactical and adaptive ideas. At the moment, there are not many Israeli defenders who can play in the national team but we will have to find solutions. To one some of what I will do will be inventive and to another it will seem like creative thinking. I was a central defender and I hope that ours now will be faster than I was but I didn’t come into this job to complain, I came into find solutions. We will find the right balance between defense and offense because this is the football I believe in and we will create a team that the nation will be proud of.”
Ben Shimon knows that there are plenty of expectations, but at the end of the day, he wants to see progress and a team of players that are committed to a process and one that will make the country proud during these difficult times.

Tai Baribo – Photo credit: IFA


“At the end of the day, I don’t care about points, I want to see a strong and good team that doesn’t lose to any opponent. I don’t know how to create a scenario where everyone knows the end of the movie. I want to lead the team to the right places in the Nations League as well.”

“Since I have arrived I see a change in thinking and I also have had many conversations with the Israelis playing abroad from afar. There is a tremendous desire in the national team, there is a generation that understands that this is a great opportunity. It’s a forward-thinking group that can improve. I won’t talk about what was before me but I do see a change since I arrived.”

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