Israel Soccer Coach Criticized for Post-Match Excuses

The current coach of the Israeli national soccer team, Ran Ben Shimon, is facing criticism for his post-match comments following a zero-zero draw against Kosovo. The author argues that Ben Shimon's excuses, such as citing "character" and "missed 100% goal chances," are unacceptable and reflect a modern form of gaslighting, where falsehoods are presented despite clear truths.

The article contends that a national team coach must deliver results, as they are replaceable. The author, adopting the persona of the Football Association chairman, suggests Ben Shimon should have been fired immediately, referencing the number of goals Israel conceded in recent matches leading to their last-place standing in their Nations League group. This position remained unchanged after the draw with Ireland.

Looking back at past Israeli coaches since 1992, the piece highlights figures like Shlomo Sharf, known for his temperament and controversial decisions, and Avraham Grant, who achieved a campaign without loss but without significant tournament advancement. Eli Gutman is noted for his loyalty to players from his former club, Hapoel Tel Aviv, even when they were out of form. Alon Hazan is mentioned in connection with a disciplinary issue involving players Yossi Benayoun and Eran Zahavi.

While acknowledging the need for coaches to maintain player morale, the author expresses outrage at the perceived disrespect towards fans, suggesting a belief that viewers are unintelligent. The article observes that while individual players like Manor Solomon, Anan Khalaily, Roy Turjeman, and Oscar Gloukh are talented, the team's collective performance suffers under a "mediocre" coach like Ben Shimon, whose career has seen limited success outside of a historic championship win with Bnei Yehuda 14 years ago. The author suggests that even an AI program could have made better hiring decisions than the selection committee.

The piece concludes by advocating for the immediate search for a replacement, either Israeli or foreign, before the next stage of the competition begins. This is presented as a necessary step if the team is to have any chance of qualifying for the upcoming European Championship, or at least to regain the interest and hope of former fans.