Israel Youth Team Coach Guy Luzon Vows to Reach Euro Playoff

The Israeli U-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.

Head coach Guy Luzon described the match as a "do or die" moment, emphasizing the team's resilience. "Even when we're behind, we don't lose our identity, and that's the most important thing," Luzon stated in an interview with "5 Ba'avir - Ha'heder Ha'chadash." He highlighted the team's consistent display of skill, character, and teamwork throughout the campaign.

Looking ahead to qualification, Luzon acknowledged that the Netherlands, with two games in hand, are a strong contender. However, he stressed that Israel's fate remains in their own hands. "Except for the Netherlands, no other team can overtake us. Our rival is the Netherlands, and things depend on us," he said, expressing determination to reach the playoffs for the third time in Israeli history.

Luzon confirmed that this campaign will be his last with the youth team, regardless of the outcome. He noted his previous successes, including reaching the European Championship twice and qualifying for the Olympics, and expressed pride in the team's performance, especially in a difficult "group of death." He also praised players like Tay Abed, the team captain, and Oran Goren, a talented player at Barcelona, anticipating that several players will progress to the senior national team.

When asked about coaching the senior team, Luzon stated he is focused solely on the upcoming playoff and European Championship qualification, not on his next career move. He also described his pre-game speeches as spontaneous expressions of his feelings.