Israel Draws With Ireland 1-1 Amid Pre-Game Tensions
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel drew 1-1 with Ireland in the Nations League.
- Irish team disrespected Israeli anthem and refused handshakes.
- Dor Peretz conceded a penalty but also scored Israel's equalizer.
- Israel's chances of Euro playoff qualification are now slim.
- The Israeli team showed improvement from their previous loss.
The Israeli national football team drew 1-1 with Ireland in a UEFA Nations League match on Sunday, October 4th, 2026. The game was marked by pre-match tensions, as the Irish team again appeared to disrespect the Israeli anthem, "Hatikvah," and refused to shake hands with the Israeli players. The Irish team also wore black armbands in memory of those killed in Gaza.
Despite the emotional backdrop, the Israeli team, coached by Ran Ben Shimon, showed significant improvement compared to their previous 3-0 loss to Ireland just a week prior. The match started evenly, but a defensive error by Dor Peretz in the 39th minute led to a penalty for Ireland, which they converted to take a 1-0 lead.
Israel came out strong in the second half. Oscar Gloukh's shot deflected to Dor Peretz, who scored the equalizer in the 1-1 draw. While Israel controlled much of the second half and hit the post twice through Gandelman and Gloukh, they were unable to secure a victory.
Professionally, the result is not ideal for Israel's standing in the group. They have only secured 2 points out of a possible 12 in the current window and are in last place. Their chances of advancing to the Euro playoffs via the Nations League are now only theoretical.
