Israeli Sports Decline From Pride to Disappointment

The article laments the significant decline of Israeli tennis, once a source of national pride with large crowds and popular players, to a point where current national team members are largely unrecognized. This decline is contrasted with the perceived overexcitement surrounding recent successes in Israeli football and basketball. The appointment of Amir Haddad as the new Davis Cup coach and Noam Okon as captain is mentioned, prompting reflection on how Israeli tennis lost its former glory, recalling packed stadiums for matches against Russia and the popularity of players like Dudi Slea.

The piece also criticizes instances of poor sportsmanship and administrative errors in Israeli football. The youth national team is facing a technical loss after fielding too many substitutes against Ukraine, highlighting a pattern of losing both on the field and in the halls of power. The article sarcastically notes that even in defeat, there's an opportunity to lose again through institutional mistakes.

Further criticism is directed at Maccabi Tel Aviv's excessive celebration of the Winner Cup, described as the fourth most important title, with chairman Shimon Mizrahi's declaration of "this is the real Maccabi" being questioned given the team's poor EuroLeague performance and recent player signings. The article suggests that the Winner Cup was once considered a minor achievement, not worthy of significant celebration.

Regarding Hapoel Tel Aviv's football team, the article dismisses the fanfare around their current first-place standing in the tenth week of the season, especially given their recent history in the second division. It suggests that a club with a large fanbase and wealthy owner returning to prominence is not surprising and urges the team to openly declare their ambition for the championship rather than expressing it as a mere hope.

Finally, the article commends national team coach Ran Ben Shimon for his ambitious, albeit seemingly unrealistic, goal of qualifying for Euro 2028. It argues that setting such a high target, even if it invites criticism, is preferable to setting modest goals and facing the inevitable disappointment of failure.