After a devastating elimination from Euro 2020 qualification playoffs by Scotland in penalties, Israel returned home for UEFA Nations League match against the Czech Republic in Haifa.
The only Middle Eastern national team in Europe looked to recover, but found more sorrow (Photo: IFA)
The only Middle Eastern national team in Europe looked exhausted, hysterical and rather panicked when the Czechs have put pressure upon them in the first half.
On the 14th minute, it cost the hosts an own goal. Debutant Joel Abu Hanna was under pressure in the left flank in his own half. The German-Palestinian with Israeli citizenship has passed back to his goalkeeper, Hibernian’s Ofir Marziano, who wasn’t ready to receive it, and the ball went in. 0-1 to the Czech Republic, after a horrific mistake and misunderstanding in the Israeli defence.
The second half started in the same way. A mistake in the Israeli defence, let Matěj Vydra make it 0-2 in the 47th minute. Eran Zahavi was able to score via an assist by Eli Dasa. 1-2, but Israel still looked vulnerable and not organized in the back.
On the 70th minute, Dia Saba, Al-Nasr Dubai’s new player, has entered the match. This determined a historical moment, where a player of an Emirati club has played for Israel.
Israel kept trying and Willy Rottensteiner through Munas Dabbur inside, but the Czech Republic players were more dangerous.
A few minutes before the full-time Manor Solomon tried to find Czech goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík unprepared, but it wasn’t the case.
In the end, the Czech visitors left with the three points and expanded the gap from their noisy neighbours in Slovakia in Group 2 of the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. The Slovaks lost to Scotland 0-1 and now wait for who will head to Bratislava for the last match of this dramatic international break for them.