Israel Under-21 Handball Team Falls 35-23 to Iceland, Faces Last Chance to Qualify for World Championship

The Israeli Under-21 handball team suffered a 35-23 defeat against Iceland, putting their hopes of qualifying for the World Championship at risk. The team will have one final opportunity to secure 15th place, which guarantees advancement, in their upcoming match against the loser of the Croatia-Romania game on Sunday.

Israel competed with a depleted roster, missing key players including injured goalkeeper Alon Rotzvi, center Tal Ekstein, suspended Ariel Sheharvani, and Ido Chernovilski, who was injured in the tournament's opening match. Despite Iceland missing two early penalty shots and Israel initially leading 2-0, Iceland quickly took control, extending their lead to 16-6 and 20-9 by halftime. Israel struggled against Iceland's strong defense and outstanding goalkeeper.

The second half was largely uneventful, with the coaching staff giving playing time to less-utilized players such as Alon. Top scorers for Israel included Ben Gross with 5 goals and Yonatan Pelech with 4. Goalkeepers Yehonatan Benshtrit and Eitan Elbaz made 10 and 2 saves respectively, while Iceland's goalkeepers combined for 20 saves out of 43 shots.

Israel's next match on Sunday will determine if they can still qualify for the World Championship by finishing 15th, facing the loser of the Croatia-Romania match.