Hibs goalkeeper Ofir Marciano faces fight for Israel No.1 spot after manager comments

Ofir Marciano’s place as first-choice goalkeeper for the Israel national team could be under threat following comments made by manager Willi Ruttensteiner.
Ofir Marciano in action for Israel against the Czech Republic in a UEFA Nations League matchOfir Marciano in action for Israel against the Czech Republic in a UEFA Nations League match
Ofir Marciano in action for Israel against the Czech Republic in a UEFA Nations League match

The Hibs No.1 came in for heavy criticism after making consecutive mistakes in two matches during the last international break.

The more serious of the two errors saw the 31-year-old misjudge a back-pass and concede an own goal in Israel’s match with the Czech Republic, while he was at fault for Marek Hamsik’s free-kick goal in the following game against Slovakia.

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Ruttensteiner suggested on Monday that he needed a “goalkeeper who wins games”, saying: “Ofir knows these were big mistakes.

"But we won’t talk about one player, we are a team. Players make mistakes, humans make mistakes. We'll analyse the game and talk to the goalkeeping coach.”

Clarification

Ruttensteiner’s assistant Alon Hazan sought to play down the head coach’s comments during a radio appearance the following day.

Speaking to 103FM, he clarified Ruttensteiner’s comments and suggested that the national team boss hadn’t sounded the death knell for the Easter Road shot-stopper.

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Hazan said: “Willi said we need a goalkeeper who wins us points, not that Marciano will be dropped. He meant that we need [Marciano] to perform at a higher level and with a greater amount of concentration.

"It's important to say that no one blamed him for the goals. There were two goals conceded that both we, and Marciano, know don’t fit his level.

"Ofir has won us points in the past and the expectation is that he will do the same in the future.

"If anyone thinks that it has already been decided that Marciano won’t play in the next game, then they’re wrong.

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"Whoever is performing best ahead of the next games will be in goal.”

In and out of the squad

Marciano was first choice for Israel between October 2014 and October 2015 but had to wait until a World Cup qualifier against Spain in March 2017 for his next cap.

He then failed to make an appearance between June 2017 and May 2019 although he was called up and remained an unused substitute on five occasions.

Marciano assumed No.1 duties for his country in September last year and has played ten of Israel’s 11 international fixtures since, while impressing at club level for Hibs.

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