There have not been many players who can claim to be an encapsulating figure in the football map of his country, but Israel international Yossi Benayoun is one player who can definitely claim such an honor.
The 33 year old began his career in his native land in Israel and has played in the top flights of Spain and England as well but the captain of the Israel national team has definitely more plans to look forward to in the near future.
With 94 appearances for his national team, the former West Ham United, Liverpool and Arsenal player is just one cap away from becoming the most capped player for the country and one of the biggest ambitions for the player who is approaching the fag end of his playing career is helping the nation qualify for a major tournament in the near future.
Israel currently sit in third place in their group in the qualifying stages for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year, three points off first place and it is well within their rights to qualify for the event and according to Yossi Benayoun, they hope to achieve the unthinkable and qualify for the event.
Benayoun is currently without a club after his contract with Chelsea expired at the end of last season and the club decided not to renew his contract. He mentioned that the teams ahead of Israel, Portugal and Russia are far better and more experienced in major tournament scenarios but Israel has the desire to do the unthinkable and bring a smile to the faces of the people of the war torn nation.
And Yossi Benayoun is a player who has always played with his heart on his sleeve and that is the attitude he hopes will help the team move forward.
