Former Israel Coach Herzog Praises Dor Peretz, Discusses Austrian Team

Former Israel national football team coach Andy Herzog believes midfielder Dor Peretz possesses the talent to play in top European leagues like Germany or Italy. "He is a wonderful player, very technical," Herzog stated, noting Peretz's size, heading ability, and work rate. Herzog also suggested Peretz might be more of a goal-scoring forward than a typical number eight, comparing him to Israeli stars Eran Zahavi and Mu'nas Dabbur.

Herzog, who previously coached Israel and is familiar with Austrian football, shared his thoughts ahead of Israel's Nations League match against Austria. He assessed Austria's recent World Cup performance as meeting the minimum goal of advancing from the group stage but felt they didn't play to their full potential, lacking match fitness in some games and failing to create significant chances against strong opponents like Argentina and Spain. He acknowledged the euphoria after qualifying but noted the 3-0 loss to Spain highlighted the gap between Austria and the world's top 10 teams.

Discussing Israel's current group in the Nations League, Herzog described it as difficult, citing Ireland's physical style, Austria's strength, and Kosovo's development under coach Franco Foda. He recalled a memorable 4-2 victory over Kosovo in Haifa as a career highlight. Herzog also commented on the security situation impacting Israel, stating that playing home games away from Israel would weaken the team due to the loss of home advantage and passionate fan support.

Herzog observed that many current Israeli national team players are performing at a high level, which is crucial for the team's success, drawing a parallel to Austrian players in top leagues. He identified key Austrian players to watch, including the injured Christoph Baumgartner, the technically skilled Sasa Kalajdzic who poses an aerial threat, the goal-scoring Michael Gregoritsch, and the energetic Konrad Laimer. He also expressed hope for the future of Austrian football with the emergence of the technically gifted Paul Wanner.

Regarding his own career, Herzog expressed a desire to return to coaching but is currently prioritizing care for his ailing mother. He is staying involved in media and observing coaching trends while awaiting future opportunities.