Guttman announces Israel squad for upcoming World Cup Qualifiers vs Azerbaijan and Russia

Football:

Yossi Benayoun has been left out of the Israel squad 

Israel national team manager Eli Guttman has announced the squad that will face Azerbaijan and Russia in their FIFA World Cup qualification campaign on the 7th and the 10th of September respectively. The most surprising omission from the squad list was Israel's captain Yossi Benayoun. It has been a long time since Benayoun last found himself in the starting lineup for Israel and has made substitute appearances in their last couple of games. The 33-year-old who is probably the most famous Israeli footballer ever, was released by his former club Chelsea at the end of last season and he is currently a free agent. "I have talked to Yossi", said Guttman yesterday after the squad list was released to the press, "together we came to an understanding that if on the day that I announce the squad he will not be signed for a club, then I will not include him". Benayoun is currently in serious talks with English sides Crystal Palace and West Brom and could rejoin the Israel squad if he does manage to sign for either of them. This was confirmed by Guttman who also said: "I hope that Yossi will find a team in the coming days, come back to train with the national team and make his way back into the starting 11".  Also missing from the squad are midfielders Avi Rekan and Beram Kayal and defender Rami Gershon all through injuries.

The full Israel national team squad for their games vs Azerbaijan and Russia:
GK: Dudu Aouate (Mallorca), Ariel Harush (Beitar Jerusalem) Danny Amos (Hapoel Tel Aviv), DF: Tal Ben Haim (Standard Liege), Yuval Spungin (Mons), Dekel Keinan (Maccabi Haifa), Eitan Tibi (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Sheran Yeini (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Eyal Meshumar (Maccabi Haifa), Taleb Tawatha (Maccab Haifa), Shir Tzedek (Ironi Kiryat Shmona), Oz Raly (Bnei Yehuda), MF: Bibras Natkho (Rubin Kazan), Lior Rafaelov (Club Brugge) Maor Melikson (Valenciennes), Gal Alberman (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Eran Zahavi (Maccabi Tel Aviv) Maharan Radi (Maccab Tel Aviv), Hen Ezra (Maccabi Haifa), Nir Biton (Ashdod), FW: Elyaniv Barda (Hapoel Be'er Sheva) Itay Shechter (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Eden Ben Basat (Toulouse), Shimon Abuhatzira (Maccabi Haifa), Eliran Atar (Reims). 

In other football news, the Israel Football Association has released the fixtures for the 2nd week of the Israeli Premier League which will be played this coming weekend.
The fixture list for Week 2 of The Israeli Premier League:
Hapoel Be'er Sheva vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (Saturday Evening)
Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Ra'anana (Saturday Evening)
Bnei Sakhnin vs Hapoel Akko (Saturday Evening)
Ironi Kiryat Shmona vs Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon (Saturday Evening)
Maccabi Petach Tikva vs Beitar Jerusalem (Saturday at 20:15)
Ashdod vs Maccabi Haifa (Sunday at 20:00)
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Bnei Yehuda (Sunday at 21:00)