Israeli Football Association Head's Support for Coach Sparks Internal Criticism
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israeli Football Association Chairman Shino Zuarz's public support for national team coach Ran Ben Shimon has been met with internal criticism due to the team's poor performance in the Nations League. Critics argue Ben Shimon has failed and should be replaced, fearing a drop in league status will harm future qualification chances.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Football Association Chairman backs coach despite poor results.
- Internal critics call for coach's dismissal.
- Team's Nations League performance draws significant criticism.
- Relegation fears could impact Euro 2024 qualification.
- Coach's comparison to Croatia is seen as flawed.
Following the Israeli national football team's return from four Nations League matches, Football Association Chairman Shino Zuarz expressed satisfaction with coach Ran Ben Shimon's performance, stating he believes Ben Shimon and his staff did a very good job and are capable of qualifying for the Euros. However, these remarks have drawn criticism from within the association. Sources within the organization pointed out that Ben Shimon has failed in his first two campaigns, with the team securing only two points in four games. They argued that the decision should not rest solely with Zuarz, and that management members and the public should be considered. These sources also stated that Ben Shimon must leave the team next month, criticizing his comparison of Israel to Croatia, which reached the last World Cup, while Israel conceded 17 goals to Norway and Italy. The association fears that a relegation to League C in the Nations League will significantly hinder Israel's chances of reaching the European Championship in two years, as they would be drawn against substantially stronger teams. "This campaign has done immense damage to Israeli football and set us back several years," the sources concluded.
