By Ori Lewis
JERUSALEM, Aug 14 - Israel coach Dror Kashtan has
named a strong 21-man squad to face Belarus in a friendly
international in Minsk on Aug. 22, their last preparation match
before next month's Euro 2008 Group E qualifier in England.
Most of the players available in major European leagues
have been named, including Chelsea central defender Tal Ben
Haim, Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, Deportivo Coruna
goalkeeper Dudu Aouate and striker Pini Balili of Turkey's
Sivasspor.
However, Queens Park Rangers striker Ben Sahar, who is on
loan from Chelsea, will miss the game and is also doubtful to
face England at Wembley on Sept. 8 following a recent appendix
operation.
Maccabi Haifa midfielder Lior Refaelov, previously named in
the squad but still uncapped, has also been included.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dudu Aouate (Deportivo Coruna), Nir Davidovich
(Maccabi Haifa)
Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Chelsea), Yoav Ziv (Beitar
Jerusalem), Dedi Ben Dayan (Maccabi Netanya), Shimon Gershon,
Arik Benado (both Beitar Jerusalem), Yuval Shpungin (Maccabi
Tel Aviv), Eyal Meshumar (Maccabi Haifa)
Midfielders: Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Walid Badir
(Hapoel Tel Aviv), Gal Alberman (Beitar Jerusalem), Idan Tal
(Beitar Jerusalem), Lior Refaelov (Maccabi Haifa), Salim Toema
(Standard Liege)
Strikers: Toto Tamuz (Beitar Jerusalem), Omer Golan
(Maccabi Petah Tikva), Pini Balili (Sivasspor), Roberto
Colautti, Yaniv Katan (both Maccabi Haifa), Barak Yitzhaki
(Beitar Jerusalem)