Israel U21 Coach Guy Luzon to Step Down After European Championship Campaign

Israel's Under-21 national football team secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Slovenia on Tuesday, with Niv Yehoshua scoring the winning goal in the 91st minute. This win solidified Israel's second-place position in their qualifying group, extending their lead over third-place Bosnia to three points. Coach Guy Luzon described the match as a "do or die" moment, emphasizing the team's character, unity, and ability to maintain their identity even when trailing.

Looking ahead to qualification for the European Championship, Luzon stated that Israel is still in contention, despite the Netherlands having two games in hand. He believes Israel controls its own destiny, needing only to avoid being overtaken by any team other than the Dutch. "Our opponent right now is the Netherlands, and things depend on us," Luzon said, acknowledging the strength of the Dutch team but expressing confidence in Israel's ability to reach the playoffs for the third time in history.

In an interview with "5 Ba'avir - Ha'chedar Ha'chadashot," Luzon confirmed his intention to leave his post after the current campaign, regardless of the outcome. He noted his successful tenure, which included two European Championship appearances and qualification for the Olympics, and expressed pride in the team's achievements, including developing players for the senior national team. "I will only be satisfied if we qualify for the playoffs," he stated.

When asked about coaching the senior national team, Luzon deflected the question, stating his sole focus is on winning the next match and achieving qualification. He also praised team captain Tai Abed as the "driving force" but reiterated that team unity is the squad's defining characteristic. Regarding young talent Orian Goren, Luzon acknowledged his potential but stressed that he has a long way to go and must remain open to learning.

Luzon concluded by discussing his pre-game speeches, describing them as natural expressions of his feelings in the moment rather than something he draws inspiration for.