Eli Guttman is confident Israel will not be overawed when they take on Euro 2012 finalists the Czech Republic and Germany in friendly matches over the coming days.
Israel take on the Czechs in Austria on Saturday followed by Germany in Leipzig on Thursday as Guttman sizes up his best team for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers, which begin in September.
The Israel boss has taken a 25-man squad to Austria for a two-week training camp and was in typically bullish mood ahead of the matches.
“We’re aiming high and we don’t plan on losing against Germany and the Czech Republic, two of Europe’s finest teams,” Guttman said. “These matches will show us where we stand.
“We have great technical players and we can use the next few weeks to see what will be the best formations to let them express themselves in the World Cup qualifiers.”
Hapoel Kiryat Shmona keeper Danny Amos, the son of an English immigrant, is expected to make his international debut in goal with Dudu Awat sidelined through injury.
SQUAD:
Goalkeepers:
Ariel Harosh (Betar Jerusalem)
Ohad Levita (Beersheva)
Danny Amos (Hapoel Kiryat Shmona)
Defenders:
Eitan Tibi (Hapoel Kiryat Shmona)
Shir Tzedek (Hapoel Kiryat Shmona)
Tal Ben Haim (Portsmouth)
Dan Mori (Bnei Yehuda)
Rami Gershon (Standard Liege)
Shmuel Sheiman (Excelsior)
Yuval Shpungin (Ammonia Nicosia)
Elad Gabai (Kiryat Shmona)
Midfielders:
Yossi Benayoun (capt - Chelsea)
Gili Vermouth (De Graafschap)
Bibers Natcho (Ruben Kazan)
Eran Zahavi (Palermo)
Avihai Yadin (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Almog Cohen (Nuremberg)
Maor Melikson (Wisla Krakow)
Lior Rafaelov (Club Bruges)
Beram Kayal (Celtic)
Strikers:
Tomer Hemed (Mallorca)
Itay Shechter (Kaiserslautern)
Omer Damari (Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Idan Ben Bassat (Brest)
Ben Sahar (Auxerre)
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