Israel Soccer Player Slams Irish 'Embarrassing' Anthem Disrespect

The Israeli national soccer team suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to Ireland in a tense Nations League match, failing to secure any points.

Following the game, midfielder Eliel Peretz expressed his frustration, stating, "We lost all the battles. We weren't there and they punished us." He attributed the defeat to a lack of aggression and intensity in the first half, leading to two quick goals conceded by Ireland. Peretz acknowledged the immense disappointment, emphasizing that while losing is acceptable, doing so without putting up a fight is not.

Peretz vowed that the team would perform differently in the next encounter against Ireland. He described the loss as one of the most disappointing of his career, not necessarily due to the difficulty of the opponent, but because the team failed to meet its own expectations and play with sufficient "soul." He stressed the need for the team to quickly recover and learn from its mistakes.

Addressing the incident where Irish players allegedly disrespected the Israeli national anthem, Peretz stated, "I didn't look at them, I sang our anthem, I was proud of our anthem. Embarrassing people." He affirmed his pride in the Israeli anthem and condemned the actions of the Irish players.

Looking ahead, Peretz acknowledged the upcoming difficult match against Kosovo, noting their improvement and the presence of players in top European leagues. He stressed the importance of preparation and determination to secure points in that game, expressing confidence that the team, despite its current struggles, possesses good players and staff capable of turning things around and achieving better results in the next two matches.