Israel Midfielder Dor Peretz Calls Ireland Loss 'One of the Saddest Moments'

Dor Peretz, a key player for the Israeli national football team, described the recent heavy loss to Ireland as "one of the saddest moments" of his career. Peretz, who came off the bench against Ireland, is expected to start in the upcoming match against Kosovo.

Speaking ahead of the Kosovo game, Peretz expressed his desire to score and contribute to the team's success, emphasizing that the team's collective goal of scoring is more important than individual achievements. He stated, "I hope I score tomorrow. I hope it will be reflected. I hope we score goals as a team. I think it's a bigger goal, it doesn't matter. It's something that will help us."

Reflecting on the 3-0 defeat to Ireland, Peretz acknowledged the team's strong desire to achieve a positive result but admitted that sometimes things don't go as planned. He described the situation as a "snowball" they couldn't stop in time, but stressed the team's determination to move forward. "I've experienced many sad moments in football, and this was completely one of them," he said.

Peretz addressed the criticism following the loss, stating he is aware of it and finds it legitimate, especially after such a performance. He noted that a win would have resulted in positive feedback, and that criticism is expected when the team underperforms. "When you lose 3-0, everything looks bad, including the moments on the field," he commented.

Looking ahead, Peretz expressed confidence in the team's potential, highlighting the "great people" involved and their ability to overcome challenges. He stressed the need for increased aggression and improved performance against Kosovo. "We will need to be aggressive and much better. I will tell the players to go up positive and with energy, that's how we will bring results," he concluded.