Injured Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun has been included in the Israel squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Croatia and Greece.
Israel hosts Croatia at Ramat Gan on Oct. 9 before traveling to Greece three days later. Benayoun has not played for Chelsea since limping off with a calf injury during the Carling Cup loss to Newcastle on Sept. 22. However, Israel coach Luis Fernandez said Wednesday he hoped the national team captain would be fit enough to return to international duty.
"Yossi is a very important player," Fernandez said when announcing the squad, adding that he consulted with the team doctor before including the former Liverpool player.
"We don't want to take a risk with him," Fernandez said.
He left open the possibility to rest Benayoun against Croatia to make sure he was fit to play against Greece.
Fernandez also dropped Hapoel Tel Aviv striker Ben Sahar in favor of Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Roberto Colautti, while Genk striker Elyaniv Barda returned to the squad.
Celtic midfielder Biram Kiyal retained his place, while Blackpool's Dekel Keinan is expected to take his regular place in the center of defense.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dudu Aouate (Mallorca), Ohad Levita (RKC Waalwijk), Ariel Harush (Beitar Jerusalem).
Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (West Ham), Dekel Keinan (Blackpool), Yoav Ziv (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Danny Bonder (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dedi Ben Dayan (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Rami Gershon (KV Kortrijk), Oshri Roash (Hapoel Haifa), Dor Malul (Maccabi Tel Aviv).
Midfielders: Tamir Cohen (Bolton), Almog Cohen (Nuremberg), Biram Kiyal (Celtic), Bibras Natcho (Rubin Kazan), Eran Zahavi (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Gili Vermouth (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Eyal Golasa (Maccabi Haifa), Lior Rafaelov (Maccabi Haifa), Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea), Amit Ben Shushan (Beitar Jerusalem).
Forwards: Elyaniv Barda (Genk), Etay Shechter (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Elroi Cohen (Hapoel Kiryat Shmona), Omer Damari (Maccabi Petah Tikva), Roberto Collauti (Maccabi Tel Aviv).
