Israel Falls to Austria in Nations League Opener After Late Collapse

The Israeli national football team began their 2026 Nations League campaign with a disappointing 3-1 loss to Austria on Thursday. Israel held Austria to a tie until stoppage time, when they conceded two late goals to seal their defeat.

Following the match, Israeli player Manor Solomon expressed the team's frustration, stating, "We felt we didn't fall short of them." He acknowledged that while the first half lacked sufficient chances, Austria also struggled to create many opportunities. "We held the ball more, we wanted to create more, we didn't create enough, and then we got that annoying goal," Solomon said, referring to Austria's opener.

Israel managed to equalize, but their efforts were hampered by a controversial second yellow card shown to player Said Abu Farhi. Solomon commented on the incident, suggesting that in most cases, a second yellow wouldn't have been given. "I don't know the rules well enough, but surely in most cases they wouldn't have shown a second yellow for that," he stated.

Solomon also addressed the team's tendency to concede goals late in halves. "This isn't the first time this has happened, and I've been with the national team for many years," he admitted. "Conceding a goal at the end of the first half and of course conceding at the end of the second half, it hurts and pinches the heart. We need to understand why this is happening and try to fix it."

Looking ahead, Israel faces a significant match against Ireland. Solomon dismissed the impact of any pre-game statements from the Irish team, emphasizing the Israeli squad's pride in representing their country. "We want to focus on football, we all love our country very much, we are all proud to be Israelis and we all want to represent our country with honor," he declared. Regarding potential political gestures, such as a refusal to shake hands, Solomon stated, "Let them do what they want, they don't interest me. I'm interested in playing football and beating them."