Israel Faces Kosovo in Nations League With Key Players Doubtful

The Israeli national football team will play an away match against Kosovo on Saturday at 4:00 PM as part of the fifth round of the UEFA Nations League, seeking their first win of the campaign. Israel currently sits last in their group in League B with two points, but a victory against Kosovo would see them draw level with their opponents on five points. Player Eli Dasa acknowledged the pressure and expectations surrounding the team, stating, "Every campaign we started, they said this is the generation. The country is hungry and thirsty to achieve a big tournament, and it develops anew each time. Sometimes the size of the expectation is the size of the disappointment." He believes the team can achieve great things and is improving, but cautioned that expectations should be managed. Dasa described Kosovo as a "very good team" away from home, calling the upcoming match the "hardest in the group" due to their aggressive style and strong home advantage. He also addressed a social media post by teammate Omer Atzili criticizing the limited playing time of Yarden Shua, saying Atzili is entitled to his opinion and that Shua is an excellent player who always impacts the game when he plays. National team coach Ran Ben Shimon assessed the match as evenly matched, predicting that "the small things will determine who wins." He noted that Kosovo has a good team, but so does Israel, anticipating an interesting game. Ben Shimon also discussed the potential future inclusion of player Miguel Vítor, stating that the team is looking towards Euro 2028 and will consider calling him up based on future needs. Regarding claims of players "giving up" on the national team, Ben Shimon asserted that he would address it if he felt it were true, but emphasized the complexities involved in player selection and decision-making, assuring that the players are eager to join the squad. He also mentioned that players from the Arab sector, like Mahmoud Jaber and Abu Fani, are keen to play but have been hampered by injuries. Ben Shimon confirmed that key players Roy Rabivo and Manor Solomon are doubtful for the match. Rabivo underwent a scan for a calf issue, and Solomon is suffering from back pain, with both having a low probability of playing given the limited time remaining before the game.