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SOUND familiar? A nation that has been bound and sometimes torn apart by religion, where sport has struggled to liberate itself from the cloying grip of politics. Maybe Ireland will catch a glimpse of its former self in Tel Aviv this week. Brian Kerr's squad might even recognise the scent of ambition - a country desperately seeking to punch above its weight in the international football arena.
Asked about football in Israel last week, Kerr delivered a typically thoughtful response about the Israeli FA's proven commitment to youth development. For decades the Wingate Institute, Israel's version of our NCTC, has been producing reports and studies into sporting failure, identifying symptoms and diagnosing treatments.
Finally their efforts appear to be paying off. Israel won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics which wasn't tarnished and football is noticeably on the up too. "At home, games are always sold out," says Eyal Levy of the Maarib newspaper. "Everybody is behind the national team. They play with a lot of confidence."
Israel may be Group Four's surprise package, but there is method behind their progress. It is three years since the IFA turned to their most successful coach, Avraham Grant, and asked him to build a team for the future. After an abortive attempt to qualify for Euro 2004, Grant has forged a side that has a smattering of talent and an abundance of spirit.
What they crave above all is respect. If the popular conception of the wandering Jew is of Ronnie Rosenthal missing open goals for Liverpool or, more recently, the controversial Eyal Berkovich being kicked in the head by John Hartson, in Yossi Benayoun they have unquestionably produced a star who can make his presence felt on a higher world stage.
Put simply, no other Israeli stands so threateningly between Kerr's Ireland and their place at the head of the group. So besotted is he with the Racing Santander playmaker's talent that Grant has already stated his conviction that Kerr will detail a man-marker to nullify his influence. That is not normally Kerr's way, but given Benayoun's form - he has scored three of Israel's six goals and had a hand in two others - the suggestion is not as ludicrous as it sounds.
The 24-year-old is often referred to as Berkovich's successor. That is to do him a grave disservice. Benayoun is considered far more gifted and a better team player than the former West Ham and Portsmouth midfielder. When Grant dispensed with the services of the 82-times capped Berkovich he knew he was taking a gamble, but it was one carefully predicated on Benayoun's flourishing potential.
Put simply, no other Israeli stands so threateningly between Kerr's Ireland and their place at the head of the group
Kerr will know him better than most. Nine years ago, Benayoun gave the first glimpse of his ability to the wider world when Israel played England in the European U16 finals in Austria. After that game one English newspaper described Benayoun as the most promising youngster in world football alongside Michael Owen.
"Of course I remember that game," Benayoun says from his home in Spain. "I scored the first goal, Owen scored the equaliser and then I created our second near the end. We needed to win to go on to the quarter-final. It is a very special memory. I still have the tape."
By then, Benayoun was already a member of the famed Ajax academy, having been spotted turning heads as an 11-year-old at his first club, Hapoel Dimona. That he lasted just one season in Holland before returning home was more a consequence of cultural differences than a question of ability.
"The problem was I was too young when I went to Ajax," he says. "In Israel, the family is very important and it was difficult for a 15-year-old to be so far from home. It was only one year, but it was a good experience. I decided to come home myself and I am happy with the decision. Now I have another opportunity to play in Europe. I am older and very happy in Spain."
The leap that Israeli football has taken owes much to the dynamic between Grant and the player he coached at Maccabi Haifa. When Berkovich was omitted, Grant risked incurring the wrath of the club managers who disliked the freedom he was given with their players, and football supporters who demanded results.
It wasn't that Berkovich, at 32, was deemed indispensable to their cause, just that there were many who would have been quick to use his absence as a stick with which to beat Grant had results not gone his way.
"It's a decision almost the whole country doesn't understand," said Berkovich during a tear-filled press conference in December. On another occasion he infiltrated one of Grant's post-match press conferences to underline his point. By then, Israel had drawn with France and Switzerland and beaten Cyprus at home and away. Berkovich's emotional words didn't carry the weight they might have.
"Nobody really talks about it now," says Benayoun, picking his words carefully. "For sure if the situation was bad everybody would be asking why is he not here. It was the decision of the manager and I am just a player. I cannot speak for the manager. Berkovich is my very good friend and my relationship with the manager is strong. I prefer not to get involved."
Under Grant, Benayoun helped Maccabi Haifa to two long-awaited League titles and inspired the club to historic qualification for the Champions League before departing for Spain. What Grant has managed so successfully is to invest in youth and discipline while allowing free reign to the player he knows and trusts so well. Benayoun wears the burden lightly.
"To tell you the truth," he says, "since I was a kid I always wanted people to expect a lot of me. I don't like to say the word 'leader' but maybe something like that. There is pressure on me, but it is positive pressure. I think all of us in this team want to be the best we can be."
That more of them - Benayoun and Bolton's Tal Ben Haim most prominently - are making it abroad has given football is Israel a boost. When Berkovich and Haim Revivo were in their prime, Banayoun says, too much was expected of the team. Grant has been allowed to proceed quietly and the results have exceeded everybody's expectations including, if truth be told, their own.
"For us it was a big surprise we didn't lose in France," Benayoun says. "But they didn't play well and they weren't the same team without Zidane. Against Switzerland, personally I think it was not a good result. We had chances to win and we made two mistakes for their goals. But after four games we have eight points and we have to be very happy. It's Israel. We are a small country."
What they are is united, though, and on Saturday the Ramat Gan Stadium will heave with the passion of more than 30,000 Israeli supporters. Benayoun doesn't busy himself with politics, but says the sanctions against games being played in Israel that lasted three years nearly tore the heart out of the team.
"To play far away from your country, we didn't enjoy our football," he says. "We never played without ambition, but just sometimes we knew we weren't going to win the game. It's nice to be at home again. I know a lot of bad things have happened in Israel, but it's quieter now. Things happen all over the world - in England, in Spain, a little bit in Ireland. It's not just in Israel."
He is an ambitious leader of an ambitious team. Growing up he watched Manchester United and Barcelona and still dreams of wearing their colours, even as informed talk in Spain suggests he is destined for bigger things than Racing Santander next season.
"I want to get to the World Cup one time in my career," he says. "I don't want to be 40 looking back and asking why I didn't play in a World Cup."
Over the next 10 days, Ireland and France will put Benayoun's sense of ambition to the test. He doesn't doubt which will be the tougher examination. "In my opinion, the best team in the group is Ireland. Personally I fear Ireland more than France. I will be happy if we don't lose to Ireland. Against France I feel we can make something.
"Players from Ireland are very strong and intelligent. Okay, France have great technique, but for me Irish players have everything. I will be happy to take a point. Maybe we can make a draw before we play."
He laughs at his joke, thanks you for calling and says shalom, leaving you wondering about the point where friendliness ends and ambition begins.
John O'Brien
