A day after the announcement of the Israeli national team and the decision of Willy Rotensteiner to exclude Lior Rapalov from the list of 26 players called up, the Austrian coach is receiving criticism. “One can not want another veteran player, but to say that Raphaelov, a player of the season in Belgium, will not come because he will not get minutes of play – is to humiliate one of our friends. He had to be on the team,” the players said.
Some of the friends of the contact who spoke to him, understood that the national coach spoke to him recently and even expressed satisfaction with his ability. To those friends Raphaelov made it clear that he very much wanted to come, even if it meant he would not get significant minutes. The midfielder, who is expected to extend his contract in Antwerp, declined to comment on the team at this stage.
This is the first time in the Austrian era, by the way, that summoned players criticize the conduct of the coach. Rotensteiner has not yet decided whether to add another player in place of the released Taleb Tawtah, and it seems that San Menachem’s replacement in the left defensive position in case of need will be Hatem ‘Abd al-Hamid or Joel Abu Hanna.
Meanwhile, El Al canceled its flight from the Netherlands to Israel on Sunday – which casts doubt on the arrival of Eran Zehavi and Eli Desa on Sunday evening. In case a flight does not depart, the team manager, Guy Portniagin, managed to find a connection flight on Monday morning with a stop in Paris for two to open in the lineup.
