Israel Football Team Lacks Optimism, Faces Bleak Future

The Israeli national football team is facing a period of significant disappointment, with coach Ran Ben Shimon and the Football Association's statements failing to inspire confidence. The team's offensive play is described as unstructured, its defense as non-existent, and its chances of qualifying for Euro 2028 are considered negligible. The author criticizes the emphasis on "determination, sacrifice, war, giving everything" by the team, arguing that these basic qualities should be present even in lower leagues, and that the national team should focus on skillful play.

Coach Ben Shimon's post-match comments, such as attributing a loss to "expectations suffocating us," are seen as deflecting from the team's poor performance. The team has secured only two points out of a possible twelve and scored just two goals in four matches, a performance deemed a failure, especially considering the relatively weak opposition in their group. The article suggests that Israel will likely finish last and will be placed in the third tier for Euro qualifiers, making qualification highly improbable.

Despite having talented players in top European leagues, the article argues they are not making a significant impact on the national team. Players from the US league are also noted as not bringing added value. The author expresses disbelief in Ben Shimon's optimistic outlook and his claims of having a plan, stating that results speak for themselves and that neither the current coach nor the current players offer hope for the near or distant future.

The recent match against Ireland is highlighted as particularly significant and disappointing, especially given the political tensions surrounding it. The author recalls decades of Israeli football history, noting that this particular loss was a profound humiliation. The article criticizes the coach's squad selection and lack of a consistent game plan, questioning the guaranteed starting positions for players like Oskar Gloukh, Manor Solomon, Anan Khalaily, and Daniel Peretz, with only Roy Revivo noted for a strong performance among them. Omri Gandelman is mentioned as a player who positively impacts the team's attacking play when he plays.

The author predicts that ahead of the next matches against Kosovo and Austria, the team will likely focus on minor improvements like not conceding early goals or a scoreless draw, rather than acknowledging the fundamental issues. The team's offensive strategy is described as relying solely on individual dribbling by Gloukh or Solomon, lacking a coherent plan, while the defense continues to concede easy goals. Goalkeeper Asaf Tzur is praised for his performance, suggesting he should retain his starting position over Peretz or Omri Glazer, unless the selection is based on favoritism. The article concludes that with two points and two goals in four games, the current situation is a failure, and Ben Shimon should resign, as his continued leadership offers little hope for improvement or qualification for Euro 2028, a tournament Israel has not reached in 56 years.