Israel Under-21 Handball Team Falls 35-23 to Iceland, Faces Crucial World Championship Qualifier
The Israeli under-21 handball team suffered a 35-23 defeat against Iceland, putting their hopes of qualifying for the World Championship on the line in their next match. The team will face the loser of the Croatia-Romania game on Sunday for a chance to secure 15th place, which guarantees advancement to the World Championship.
Israel played with a depleted roster missing key players: goalkeeper Alon Rozbi, center Tal Ekstein, Ariel Sheharvani who was suspended for the tournament, and Ido Chernovelsky who was injured in the opening game. Despite Iceland missing two early penalty shots and Israel briefly leading 2-0, Iceland quickly took control, extending their lead to 16-6 and 20-9 by halftime. The Israeli team struggled against Iceland’s strong defense and outstanding goalkeeper.
The second half was largely uneventful, with the coaching staff giving playing time to less-used players like Alon. Top scorers for Israel included Ben Gross with 5 goals, Jonathan Pelech with 4, and Liam Mader and Idan Mana with 3 each. 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 be decisive for their World Championship qualification hopes.
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