Israel Football Chief Defends Coach, Vows to Return Games Home

Following a disappointing international break, Israel's national football team returned to Ben Gurion Airport on Monday. Football Association Chairman Shino Zuarz addressed the team's performance, coach Ran Ben Shimon, and the possibility of hosting matches in Israel again.

Zuarz acknowledged the disappointing results, stating, "The results were disappointing. The players gave everything they could, the professional and logistical staff did everything possible. Unfortunately, the results were not good, we will need to understand where we fell short and fix it." He specifically mentioned the match against Austria, where he felt officiating in the final minutes decided the outcome, and a "clear collapse" against Ireland. However, he praised the team's "excellent game" against Kosovo, which he felt they deserved to win.

Despite the criticism, Zuarz defended coach Ran Ben Shimon, saying, "I compliment Ran for the very good work he has done. In football, you can also lose." He added, "I think Ran is doing a very good job, there is a path and we will continue on our path, I don't listen to the background noise." He expressed hope that the team would learn from its mistakes and improve in upcoming matches.

Regarding the possibility of returning matches to Israel, Zuarz stated, "If we were hosting here at all, it would be much better." He explained that the current narrative against Israel, particularly in Europe, makes hosting difficult. He noted that other countries like Ukraine and Belarus are also not hosting games due to their situations. "When the situation ends, I will do everything to bring the games back to Israel," he promised.

Zuarz also emphasized UEFA's support, stating, "They are super by our side and super supportive." He credited UEFA with ensuring the matches proceeded despite some teams' reluctance to play. The ultimate goal, he concluded, is to qualify for the Euros, with the team aiming to achieve this through the upcoming Nations League or qualifiers.