Israel's Soccer League Slips in UEFA Rankings Amid European Competition Woes
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel's top soccer league has fallen to 25th in the UEFA rankings, dropping two spots since August due to a lack of home-field advantage and recent European performance. Neighboring countries like Cyprus and Switzerland are ranked higher, with more teams competing in European tournaments. Hapoel Be'er Sheva is Israel's sole representative and faces a difficult schedule, potentially widening the gap further.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's soccer league dropped to 25th in UEFA rankings, losing ground to European competitors.
- The league is 0.712 points behind Ukraine, hindering the goal of qualifying for Champions League.
- Several neighboring countries have gained points, increasing their European standing.
- Hapoel Be'er Sheva is Israel's only team in European competitions.
- Inability to host matches domestically is cited as a major reason for the decline.
Israel's top soccer league has seen a concerning drop in the UEFA rankings, currently sitting in 25th place with 24.125 points. This places Israel 0.712 points behind Ukraine, which is in 23rd position. The long-held aspiration of reaching 15th place, which would grant two teams spots in the Champions League qualifiers, is becoming increasingly distant. This decline is attributed to recent years where Israeli teams have not been able to host matches domestically.
Several European leagues, including Cyprus (15th), Switzerland (16th), Austria (17th), Hungary (18th), Croatia (19th), Sweden (20th), and Romania (21st), have all gained points in various European competitions this past week. Most of these nations have multiple representatives in European tournaments, unlike Israel, which currently has only one: Hapoel Be'er Sheva. Hapoel Be'er Sheva recently lost to Union SG.
Since August, Israel has fallen two spots in the rankings by the end of October. This slide is partly due to the qualification of Qarabag of Azerbaijan and Shakhtar Donetsk for the Champions League, bypassing Israeli teams. Slovenia, in 26th place, has also sent a representative, Celje, to the Europa League, posing a slight threat of closing the gap.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva faces a challenging schedule ahead, with upcoming matches against Juventus, Celta Vigo, and Bournemouth. There are concerns that the point deficit will widen further by the end of the season, continuing a trend observed since October 7th. The inability for Israeli teams to play at home is seen as a significant impediment to their progress in European competitions.
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