Time to Part Ways With Coach Ran Ben Shimon After Humiliating Loss

The Israeli national football team suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Ireland in a recent match, with the author criticizing the team's performance and the leadership of coach Ran Ben Shimon. The article describes the atmosphere at the stadium as surreal, with isolated cheers in an empty stadium, contrasting with the widespread shock and disappointment back in Israel. The author suggests that both the Israeli and Irish teams seemed to conspire to bring about this defeat, highlighting a perceived lack of fight and motivation from the Israeli players.

Following the loss, player Manor Solomon expressed a strong desire to immediately focus on the next game against Kosovo, a sentiment the author questions, wondering how much more motivation is needed to start tackling effectively. The article also touches on a controversial gesture by Irish players, which the author believes further compounded the humiliation for Israel, both on and off the field. The author characterizes the Israeli team as one that is easily "stepped on" and notes that the Irish team, known for its provocative style, benefits from such an opponent.

The author details a perceived lack of tactical awareness and decisiveness from coach Ben Shimon during the match, citing his delayed substitutions and failure to adapt to the Irish team's defensive strategy. This is framed not as an isolated incident, but as a continuation of a pattern of helplessness observed throughout Ben Shimon's tenure. When appointed two and a half years ago, his mandate was to lead a generational change and build a strong foundation for the team, but the author argues that this has not materialized, with the team repeatedly ending campaigns back at square one.

Despite the calls from some within the Football Association to dismiss Ben Shimon, the author suggests these are populist reactions riding on the wave of public anger. The author previously advocated for ending Ben Shimon's contract after the previous campaign, noting that his stated goals for the current campaign, such as developing "shared defensive understanding," were not met. While acknowledging Ben Shimon's dignified conduct and acceptance of responsibility, the author concludes that this is insufficient given the team's overall performance and that a change in coaching is necessary, drawing a comparison to former coach Shlomo Sharf, who prioritized results and national pride over player comfort.

The immediate focus for the team is the upcoming match against Kosovo, which the author views as an opportunity to address a sense of national insult. The article was first published on October 26th at 01:30.