Israel Coach Ben Shimon Claims Team Deserved More Than Draw

The Israeli national football team secured its first point in the UEFA Nations League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Kosovo on Thursday in Debrecen. Despite dominating for much of the match, Israel failed to convert their chances. Coach Ran Ben Shimon expressed his belief that the team deserved a better outcome, stating, "We deserved even more than a draw today." He acknowledged the team's initial struggles but praised the players' effort and resilience in overcoming difficult circumstances. Ben Shimon highlighted four missed scoring opportunities and emphasized the importance of the team's defensive work, which he felt allowed them to respond effectively to the situation they created for themselves. He also noted the team's character and expressed confidence that this performance would build momentum for their upcoming match against Ireland. Ben Shimon stressed that the team has exhausted all excuses and must deliver a performance against Ireland that will make their disappointed fans proud. He also commented on goalkeeper Assaf Tzur, who started in place of the absent Omri Glazer and Daniel Peretz, calling him a "real experience" both as a player and a person, and affirmed that the best available players were on the field for the match.