There were no cheerleaders, tailgaters and not that many spectators. The gridiron was marked over a baseball diamond and the home side scored one touchdown while conceding seven.

As debuts go, however, Israel's first American football international on Thursday in Petah Tikva was considered a success.

Israel lost 49-6 to Maranatha Baptist Bible College Crusaders from Watertown, Wisconsin, a Division III team, but local enthusiasts were merely happy to see a national team formed and playing, five years after launching a local league.

