Israel National Football Team Lacks Identity and Cohesion

The Israeli national football team's recent performance, culminating in a 3-0 loss, has been described as lacking taste and direction, failing to connect with the public despite a significant opportunity to do so. The author expresses deep disappointment and embarrassment over the team's listless display, where players appeared to be mere statistics on the field rather than active participants.

This campaign was seen as a chance to unite Israelis from all walks of life, transcending political divides, similar to how a recent incident involving Irish fans had rallied support for the team. Instead, the team presented a weak, uninspired performance, losing every tackle and battle from the outset.

Professionally, the preparation phase should have yielded results, but the article questions which players have truly excelled or maximized their potential. The strategy of fielding talented attackers without a solid defensive foundation has resulted in a disjointed "salad" with neither creative offense nor quality defense.

Players are reportedly not playing in their natural positions to accommodate a dynamic system that shifts between defense and offense, a system that has not yet proven effective and was highlighted as a major warning sign in the recent match. The inclusion and positioning of Dor Peretz are cited as an example of not maximizing player strengths.

Coach Ran Ben Shimon faces a critical juncture, with an upcoming match against Kosovo offering a last chance to salvage the campaign. The team's defensive fragility, conceding nearly three goals per game on average against strong opponents, coupled with an inability to create scoring chances, underscores the urgency for a drastic change in approach. The author hopes the talented players can prove they can form a team that Israelis can be proud of, but emphasizes that both the players and Ben Shimon need a complete turnaround, as time is running out.