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Israel's Soccer Team Aimed for Draw, Not Victory, Against Kosovo
The Israeli national soccer team drew 0-0 against Kosovo on Saturday, failing to secure its first win in the Nations League and losing its chance to advance. As a result of the draw, the team will be placed in League C for the Euro 2028 qualifiers. The performance drew heavy criticism from commentators, who described the current squad as the weakest in history and criticized coach Ran Ben Shimon for a passive, defensive strategy and a perceived fear of losing.
3 newsrooms · 1 language · since
What happened
- 01The Israeli national soccer team drew 0-0 against Kosovo on Saturday, failing to advance in the Nations League.
- 02Due to the draw, Israel will be placed in League C for the Euro 2028 qualifiers.
- 03Commentators heavily criticized coach Ran Ben Shimon, describing the current squad as the weakest in history.
- 04Kosovo played with ten men after Valdin Hoxha received a red card in the 67th minute of the match.
- 05The Israeli team has now failed to score a goal in 330 minutes of play.
- 06Despite the criticism of his defensive tactics, Ran Ben Shimon has been confirmed to continue as coach.
- 07Captain Eli Dasa called for tactical balance between defense and offense ahead of the upcoming match against Austria.
Kosovo played with ten men for the final 23 minutes of the match after Valdin Hoxha received a red card in the 67th minute. Despite the numerical advantage, Israel failed to score, extending its goalless streak to 330 minutes of play. While Ben Shimon adjusted the formation by substituting defender Idan Nahmias for forward Idan Shua, analysts argued the team's approach remained weak and focused on securing a tie rather than pursuing a victory. Despite the criticism, Ben Shimon has been confirmed to continue as coach for the upcoming Euro qualifiers.
Team captain Eli Dasa expressed disappointment over the missed opportunity but defended the team's defensive commitment. Looking ahead to an upcoming match against Austria, Dasa emphasized the need to find a balance between a stable defense and a potent offense. He also praised the debut of young player Niv Yehoshua and stressed that the team must develop character alongside talent to succeed in the future.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Ynet. Read Ynet’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre2
- RightNone
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
- Other1
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