Israel were beaten 2-0 by Serbia in a friendly played in front of a paltry crowd of just 7,783 at the Bloomfield Stadium on Wednesday night.

Luis Fernandes, the Israel manager, used the match to try out an experimental five-man midfield ahead of next month’s Euro 2012 qualifiers.

A strong Serbia team, who included Jewventus playmaker Milos Krasic and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, forged ahead midway through the first half.

Good work from Ivanovic saw him power down the right flank before sending in a precision cross that was converted by the onrushing Zoran Tošić.

Serbia were the better team on the night and Dudu Awat, the Israel keeper, was by far the busier.

The visitors clinched the match with a second goal 14 minutes from time when Veseljko Trivunović scored his first international goal with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Israel will host Latvia and Georgia in the qualifiers in March but, if last night’s performance is anything to go by, it remains to be seen whether or not Fernandez will be in charge.

Israel’s Under 21 team went down 1-0 against their Serbian counterparts.