Israel's U21 Team Eyes Euro 2027 Playoff Berth Against Norway

Israel's under-21 national football team faces Norway on Tuesday evening in a crucial match that could secure their spot in the Euro 2027 playoffs. Coach Guy Luzon's squad needs a win, but depending on other results, a draw or even a loss might suffice. Norway has already qualified for the Euro tournament as group winners, making this match a formality for them, though they will still aim for a strong performance.

Several scenarios could see Israel advance. A victory guarantees them second place in the group. A draw could also lead to qualification, contingent on the outcome of the Bosnia vs. Netherlands game; if the Netherlands win, Israel would be eliminated. In a surprising turn, Israel could even lose and still qualify if Bosnia defeats the Netherlands, provided the goal difference remains favorable, with Israel currently holding a +4 advantage.

The group standings show Norway leading with 16 points and a +13 goal difference, followed by Israel with 10 points and a 0 goal difference. The Netherlands has 9 points (+1 goal difference), Bosnia has 7 points (-4 goal difference), and Slovenia has 5 points (-10 goal difference). The final group matches are Norway vs. Israel and Netherlands vs. Bosnia, both kicking off at 19:45.

Potential playoff opponents for Israel include Finland/Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland/Iceland, Ireland/Slovakia, Germany/Greece, Turkey/Ukraine, and Denmark/Belgium. Sver Neipen, who assisted against Israel, is unavailable, as is Antonio Nusa, who is with the senior national team.

Coach Guy Luzon is expected to field a lineup including Ofek Malika in goal, with a defense of Noam Steifman, Maor Yashirimak, Ido Cohen, and Noam Ben Harush. The midfield is anticipated to feature Tai Avad, Niv Yehoshua, and Ran Benjamin, supporting forwards Orion Goren, Niv Gabay, and Iyad Halaili.