Ran Ben Shimon: Moldova's 'star player' absence won't matter for Israel
Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon said he is well-acquainted with the Moldova national side. Speaking at a press conference, he stated that the absence of star player Ion Nicolaescu will not be a factor in Friday's match, highlighting the "Tricolors'" collective play.
The Israeli squad, led by Ben Shimon, trained at the Zimbru Stadium in the Moldovan capital. Tottenham Hotspur striker Manor Solomon, who was loaned to Villarreal on the final day of the transfer window, is among the players called up for the matches against Moldova and Italy. Solomon can now play an official match again after a break of several months.
At the official training session, he appeared in good spirits, just like his teammates. Before the session, Ben Shimon held a press conference. When asked if Ion Nicolaescu's absence would be an advantage for his team, he replied:
"I know Ion Nicolaescu is a very good player, but I prefer to talk about the Moldova squad as a whole. Even if Nicolaescu does not play, he can be replaced by Virgiliu Postolachi. At home, your team is competitive and can cause problems for any opponent."
Defender Eli Dasa said: "Even though it will be difficult, I believe we can qualify for next year's World Cup. We only need a win in the match against Moldova."
Since 2008, Moldova and Israel have met in four official matches, with the "Tricolors'" opponents winning all of them. The match at the Zimbru Stadium will be refereed by Scottish official John Beaton.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
