Israel Draws With Ireland, Players Reflect on Performance and Mindset

The Israeli national football team concluded its recent international window with a 1-1 draw against Ireland on Sunday, following a solid performance under coach Ran Ben Shimon. Midfielder Eliel Peretz, one of the standout players, spoke about the team's effort and the challenges of playing four games in a short period. He praised the professional and medical staff for their preparation and highlighted the team's commitment and improved aggression compared to previous matches.

Peretz acknowledged that the team was not mentally focused enough in the prior game, leading to easily conceded goals. However, he expressed satisfaction with the team's attitude and willingness to fight in the recent match, stating that this approach is how they will be measured moving forward. He assured that this determined mindset would be evident in all future games, regardless of the opponent.

"We didn't come focused enough for the previous game," Peretz stated, noting that the team's previous performance weighed on their minds. He felt that in the last two games, they were just short of securing a win but was pleased with the team's approach. Peretz added that in the second half against Ireland, they displayed quality and created chances, but ultimately only scored one goal, again falling just short of victory.

Peretz also commented on the perceived "trash talk" from the Irish team, describing them as "small people" and noting that the Israeli team tried to stay focused and not get drawn into such exchanges. He expressed pride in his teammates' fighting spirit and their ability to minimize yellow cards, emphasizing a focus on football and physicality over verbal sparring.

Defender Eyal Feingold, who started in the center of defense, also discussed the team's improvement. He felt the team learned from past mistakes and fought hard from the start, giving 100%. Feingold admitted that they conceded a "silly goal" but was proud of everyone's effort, regretting that they couldn't secure more than a draw. He also addressed a past misunderstanding with the football association regarding his exclusion from the youth team, stating it was resolved and he respected the professional decision.

Reflecting on the significance of playing on October 7th, Peretz called it a "very sensitive day" for Israel and expressed that a win on that date would have been particularly meaningful. He reiterated that the team prepared well, learned from errors, and showed heart and aggression. Both players acknowledged the intensity of playing four games in 12 days and the challenges of being away from family, but expressed confidence in the team's ability to secure the necessary points in their upcoming matches against Kosovo and Austria.