Israel entertain the challenge of Zambia in an international friendly encounter at the HaMoshava Stadium in Petah Tikva on Thursday evening.

With neither team featuring at this year's World Cup in Qatar, they will both be looking to round off their involvements for 2022 on a high note.

Match preview

From the brink of a largely expected win, Israel fell to a shock 2-1 defeat against Malta in September's meeting between the sides at the National Stadium Ta' Qali.

Alon Hazan's men took the lead just past the half-hour mark courtesy of a Bibars Natcho penalty before quickfire goals in the final knockings from Alexander Satariano and Ferdinando Apap turned the game on its head.

That was only a first defeat in five outings across all competitions for the Blue and Whites, whose last loss came against Germany back in March.

Awaiting them next is the first of two consecutive home outings to close out the year as they take on a Zambia outfit yet to face off against European opponents since 2013.

Unbeaten in seven straight matches on their own patch leading up to Thursday's contest, the hosts will heavily fancy themselves to record another positive result in front of an expectant home support.

Zambia came away empty-handed from the second game in a row following a narrow 1-0 defeat against Mali at the Stade du 26 Mars on September 23.

Moses Sichone's men fell behind to El Bilal Toure's early opener in the sixth minute, and that turned out to be the all-important moment in Bamako.

The Chipolopolo are now without an international victory since July, when they saw off the threat of Namibia in extra time to lift the COSAFA Cup.

Having failed to find the back of the net in each of their last three matches, Thursday's visitors know that their attacking output needs significant improvement to stand any chance of emerging victorious here.

Team News

Fashion Sakala was originally called up for Zambia, but the Rangers forward has since picked up a muscle problem which is set to keep him sidelined for this one.

Patson Daka is expected to lead the line for the away side once again as the Leicester City man closes in on double digits in terms of international goals.

Israel's Manor Solomon continues to battle with a long-term knee injury he picked up in Fulham's season-opener, and the winger is out of contention for Thursday.

With three goals in his most recent four national-team appearances on home turf, 26-year-old Shon Weissman will be looking to deliver the goods for the home side.

Israel possible starting lineup:
Glazer; Dasa, Davidzada, Goldberg, Vítor; Peretz, Glazer, Natcho; Weissman, Altman, Baribo

Zambia possible starting lineup:
Nsabata; Chepeshi, Chanda, Mwape, Mayembe; Kampamba, Kabwe, Chama, Banda; Daka, Kangwa

We say: Israel 2-1 Zambia

Both teams will be without a number of key players for the clash, but we expect a keenly-contested affair nonetheless. We are also tipping Israel to carry the day in the end, albeit by only a narrow margin.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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