Israel’s national team started assembling at Shefayim on Sunday as it began its build-up to a friendly against Albania on Wednesday night, with the squad set to fly out on Monday after a morning practice at the National Team training headquarters. Daniel Peretz, Oscar Gloukh and Roy Revivo were among the first players to report in, while Manor Solomon and captain Eli Dasa are due to join the group in Albania.

The match is the team’s last stop before the Nations League campaign opens in September, and coach Ran Ben Shimon is trying to keep the focus on football. He said the squad’s task is to treat the game as another test, not as a casual exhibition, and pointed to the commitment shown by players who answered the call even after long seasons that included 50 matches for some of them.

That message sits alongside a more personal issue for Ben Shimon, who may not be able to travel with the team after an accident a couple of weeks ago. He said he received treatment at Sheba Medical Center and still needs more tests, including a head CT scan, before he makes a final decision after speaking with doctors and football association officials.

Ben Shimon has tried to keep that uncertainty from becoming the story. He said the team decided during wartime to stay focused on sport and avoid distractions, adding that he does not want to be a burden on those around him. His preference is to leave the attention on the squad and the work ahead, not on his own recovery.

Even so, the question hanging over the trip is whether he boards the flight on Monday or stays behind and lets his staff carry the team to Albania. Either way, the calendar is fixed: practice in Shefayim, travel on Monday, and a friendly on Wednesday night that serves as the final tune-up before Israel’s competitive matches begin next month.

Midfielder Eliel Peretz said the call-up still carries weight for the players. “There’s no doubt it’s a privilege to come here, represent the national team and wear these colors,” he said, while also noting that a cup final had put a slight damper on celebrations after a season that ended with a championship. For Israel, the immediate task is simple enough. For Ben Shimon, the next decision is whether he is well enough to be on the plane at all.