Israel Falls to Austria in Nations League Opener, Solomon Reflects on Loss

The Israeli national football team began their 2026 Nations League campaign with a disappointing 3-1 loss to Austria on Thursday. Israel held the score at 1-1 until stoppage time, when they conceded two late goals to seal their defeat. Midfielder Manor Solomon expressed the team's frustration after the match, stating, "We felt we weren't inferior to them." He acknowledged that while the team didn't create enough chances in the first half, Austria also struggled to generate significant opportunities.

Solomon specifically addressed the controversial red card shown to teammate Seyd Abu Farhi. "We spoke with him. He knows he made a mistake, and in hindsight, he clearly wouldn't have done it," Solomon said, adding that the team supported Abu Farhi and that he would learn from the experience. Solomon questioned the referee's decision, suggesting that in most cases, a second yellow card would not have been issued for the offense. "I don't know the rules well enough, but surely in most cases, they wouldn't have given a second yellow for that," he commented.

Regarding the officiating, Solomon admitted that playing away often means the referee's decisions are not always in Israel's favor, but he stressed that the team should not use this as an excuse. He also lamented the team's tendency to concede late goals, noting that this has happened before and needs to be addressed. "We need to understand why this is happening and try to fix it," he stated.

Looking ahead to the upcoming match against Ireland, Solomon dismissed any distractions from the opposing team's statements. "We clearly hear what they are saying and don't like it, but we don't want to focus on that. We want to focus on football," he said. He emphasized the team's pride in representing Israel and their desire to win for their country, regardless of any political tensions or potential actions from the Irish team, such as refusing to shake hands. "I want to come and play football, and win for our country," Solomon concluded.