Six out of Israel squad

Israel's newly appointed national team coach Avraham Grant left six players out from his final 19-man squad for Wednesday's friendly against Lithuania in Vilnius.

Berkovic injured
Eyal Berkovic was forced to drop out of the squad today after limping out of Manchester City FC's 3-0 defeat by Leeds United AFC with cramp. Racing Santander's Yossi Benayoun, who played 45 minutes in yesterday's 2-1 defeat against AS Roma at El Sardinero stadium, was not included while Maccabi Tel-Aviv's Avi Nimni, who missed his side's UEFA Cup victory against FC Levadia Tallinn through injury, has been left out so he can recover.

Defender joins Under-21s
Young defender Tal Ben Haim will now travel to Lithuania with the Under-21 squad, and Hapoel Tel-Aviv goalkeeper Shavit Elimelech, who spent his side's UEFA Cup match this week on the subsititutes' bench, was also excluded. Despite being named in the initial 25-man squad, Elimelech's club-mate Yigal Antebi will also remain in Israel as his inclusion is still pending an Israel Football Association legal decision after the left-back failed to complete three years of national service in the Israel Defence Forces.

Revised Israel squad
Awat, Strauber, Benado, Harazi, Keisi, Bachar. Brumer, Gershon, Rabah, Badier, Abuksis, Afek, Tal, Banin, Zandberg, Revivo, Tikva, Udi, Biton.