Benayoun named captain in new-look Israel squad

TEL AVIV, Aug 7 (Reuters) Israel coach Dror Kashtan today named West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun as his new captain while announcing a new-look squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier away against Estonia next month.

Kashtan, who took over at the beginning of the year, left out former captain Avi Nimni of Maccabi Tel Aviv and veteran defenders Alon Harazi and Arik Benado of Maccabi Haifa.

Argentine-born striker Roberto Colautti of Maccabi Haifa was named provisionally as he is still awaiting for his status as an Israeli citizen to be confirmed by the interior ministry.

Israel have not reached the finals of a major tournament since the World Cup finals in 1970, a record Kashtan said he intended to change.

''It is time to change the perception that we have not qualified for any major finals for (so long),'' Kashtan said.

Israel are in Group E together with favourites England, Croatia, Russia, Estonia, Macedonia and Andorra.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Dudu Awate (Deportivo Coruna), Nir Davidovich (Maccabi Haifa).

Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Bolton Wanderers), Shimon Gershon (Beitar Jerusalem), Tomer Ben Yosef (Beitar Jerusalem), Omri Afek (Beitar Jerusalem), Roni Gafni (Beitar Jerusalem), Yoav Ziv (Beitar Jerusalem), Tomer Haliva (Hapoel Tel Aviv).

Midfielders: Idan Tal (Bolton Wanderers), Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United), Yossi Shivhon (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Michael Zandberg (Beitar Jerusalem), Aviram Bruchian (Beitar Jerusalem), Walid Badir (Beitar Jerusalem), Salim Tuama (Beitar Jerusalem), Gal Alberman (Beitar Jerusalem).

Strikers: Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa), Roberto Colautti (Maccabi Haifa), Shlomi Arbeitman (Maccabi Haifa), Moshe Biton (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Omer Golan (Maccabi Petah Tikva), Amit Ben Shushan (Beitar Jerusalem).

REUTERS PM RAI1607