Israel's Soccer Team Faces Relegation Threat in Nations League
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel faces relegation from Nations League B after two losses.
- Performance impacts Euro 2024 qualifying seeding.
- A playoff for survival is possible if Israel finishes fourth.
- Relegation might offer a better Euro qualifying draw.
- The team has zero points after two matches.
The Israeli national soccer team is in a precarious position in the UEFA Nations League, having lost its first two matches and currently sitting at the bottom of its group with zero points. This puts them at serious risk of relegation to League C.
Israel has completed one-third of its group stage games. Finishing third would secure their place in League B, while a fourth-place finish would send them to a playoff for survival in League B. Given their current performance and goal difference, reaching first place, which earns promotion to League A, seems unlikely. Second place offers a chance at promotion through a playoff.
If Israel finishes last, they will face the second-place team from another League B group in a playoff in March, after the November international break. The draw for these playoffs will occur after the November break.
Israel's chances of qualifying for the European Championship playoffs via the Nations League were already slim. The number of playoff spots available depends on how many host nations qualify directly for the Euros. If all group winners in the Nations League qualify for the Euros through regular qualification, then second-place teams might get playoff berths.
The team's performance in the Nations League directly impacts their seeding for the Euro 2024 qualifiers draw, scheduled for December. A first or second-place finish would likely place Israel in the second tier of seeding, while a third or fourth-place finish would drop them to the third tier.
According to Football Meets Data's algorithm, Israel is predicted to finish last. However, the analysis suggests a 24.9% chance they will win their playoff match and remain in League B. The article questions whether relegation might be beneficial in the long run, considering a potential scenario where finishing third or fourth in the current group could still lead to a third-tier seeding for the Euros. The next Nations League format will change, with three groups of six teams each.
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