Israel have already named their starting XI for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Italy and there are a lot of surprises.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio-Emilia.
Israel suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Macedonia on Saturday, decided by Genoa’s Goran Pandev, and were jeered off the field.
This infuriated captain Eran Zahavi, who tore his armband off and threw it to the ground in frustration.
Israel have already named their starting XI for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Italy and there are a lot of surprises.
It kicks off at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT) at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio-Emilia.
Israel suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Macedonia on Saturday, decided by Genoa’s Goran Pandev, and were jeered off the field.
This infuriated captain Eran Zahavi, who tore his armband off and threw it to the ground in frustration.
He was given a 12-month suspension by the Israeli FA for unsporting conduct and reacted by resigning from international duty.
Ben Bitton is out injured and striker Tomer Hemed was due to become the new captain, but he too is on the treatment table.
There are numerous changes to the expected XI, starting with goalkeeper Ariel Harush instead of Omri Glazer, but above all Tal Ben Chaim is benched, despite the fact he scored back in September.
It's a 4-3-2-1 system with Etey Schechter as the lone centre-forward.
Israel have never beaten Italy, managing one draw and three losses, in which they scored three goals and conceded 13.
Their last encounter ended 3-1 in Haifa in September 2016.
These sides met only once on Italian soil, a 6-0 Italy victory in Turin on November 4, 1961, with Omar Sivori bagging four goals.
The referee is French official Benoit Bastien.
Italy (predicted): Buffon; Conti, Barzagli, Astori, Darmian; Verratti, De Rossi; Candreva, Belotti, Immobile, Insigne
Israel (official): Harush; Davidzada, Ben Haim, Tzedek, Keljtens; Cohen, Natcho, Kabha; Melikson, Refaelov; Shecter