Israel Football Captain Eli Dasa Calls for Character and Balance After Kosovo Draw

Israel national football team captain Eli Dasa expressed disappointment following the team's 0-0 draw against Kosovo, acknowledging a sense of missed opportunity. "We knew what kind of game we were coming into, Kosovo away is a very, very difficult game," Dasa stated, explaining the team's plan to focus on defense and find an opening for a winning goal. "It didn't work out, there was great commitment, but in terms of the result, we didn't achieve it."

Dasa addressed the upcoming crucial match against Austria, which could mark the end of a disappointing campaign. He emphasized the team's forward-looking perspective, viewing the Austria match as the "end of our beginning" for Euro 2028 qualifiers. He noted the team's recent focus on stabilizing defense after a humbling experience against Ireland, and stressed the need to find a balance between strong defense and a potent offense. "We need to come and continue to perform well defensively, and now we will also need to bring the offense and find that balance so we can continue forward to the qualifiers."

Reflecting on the team's 330-minute goalless streak, Dasa admitted that while the squad possesses talent, they haven't maximized their potential. He highlighted the need for maturity and balance in the upcoming game, pointing out the inverse relationship observed between offensive and defensive performance in recent matches. "When we were offensively good, we weren't defensively, when we were defensively good, offensively not. Therefore, this is something else we are looking for our identity in."

Dasa identified the commitment of the 11 players on the field as a positive takeaway, contrasting it with previous "embarrassing" performances. He stressed that talent alone is insufficient, and teams must learn to secure points even without playing beautiful football. "We didn't take the three points, but on the other hand, we stabilized defensively, we saw commitment from the players," he said, adding that finding a smoother transition from defense to offense is key.

Despite criticism regarding the current generation's failure to reach Euro 2028, Dasa expressed unwavering belief in the squad's potential, urging for continued faith. He drew parallels with other improving national teams like Kosovo, emphasizing the necessity of character alongside talent. "We will overcome Austria, wait for the draw, and move forward. We, and you too, by the way, everyone needs to believe, without faith, where will we arrive?"

Finally, Dasa praised the impressive debut of young player Niv Yehoshua, highlighting his attentiveness, learning ability, responsibility, and good character. "It was clear that even if he got his minutes, he would do a fantastic job," Dasa remarked, wishing Yehoshua a great tournament and emphasizing the importance of team achievement over individual appearances.