Israel Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz Calls Protesters 'Ignorant'

Israel's national soccer team suffered a significant 3-0 defeat against Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday, conceding three goals within the first 25 minutes. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz issued a public apology on behalf of the team for their performance in the first half, expressing shame over how they played.

Peretz attributed the poor showing to excessive emotion and a loss of focus, stating, "We wanted to win too much, maybe that hurt us." He emphasized that the team takes responsibility and is not looking to blame others, urging each player to reflect on their own mistakes. He described the feeling after the first half as one he never wants to experience again, vowing that the team would not repeat such a performance in their next match against Ireland in a week.

Despite the embarrassing first half, Peretz highlighted the team's effort in the second half, noting that they played with determination until the final whistle. He recalled a past experience where his club team came back from a 3-0 halftime deficit to win 4-3, using it as motivation for the team to not give up.

When asked about protests by Irish individuals before and during the match, Peretz responded by calling them "ignorant people." He differentiated between those who approached the team to understand the situation and those who expressed opinions without full knowledge, stating that while it's their right, it stems from ignorance. Peretz concluded by reiterating that the team's primary issue was a lack of focus on the game itself, which is crucial for victory.