BUDAPEST: Over a year ago, in September 2022, Israel defeated Albania in a decisive Nations League match.
That win confirmed their place at the top of League B meaning, should they not qualify directly for the tournament, they will be drawn at home for their game in the play-offs for Euro 2024.
The player who is part of every recent Israeli football success. Anan Khalaili smiles in the last training session before the Iceland clash. (Photo courtesy: Israel Football Association)
Both before and after that match, Israel has experienced ups and downs.
Israeli football has gone on to break records time-after-time.
The U19 national team reached the semi-finals of the Euros in 2022 and, a year later, the same team reached the U20 World Cup.
The U21 team, meanwhile, successfully qualified for the Euros, reached the semis and booked a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
So Israel was able to dream of reaching its first-ever European championship, but things have quickly changed since then.
Since the beginning of the war on 7 October, the national team has had to host their home games away from home.
And, in their four matches in the November international break, they suffered two defeats to Kosovo and Romania, which caused them to miss out on an automatic spot in the tournament.
Now Israel is facing a challenging situation. They will host abroad again, this time at the Ferenc Szusza Stadium in Budapest.
And the opponents, Iceland, a team they already played twice in the 2022 Nations League campaign.
Both of those games ended in a draw, but this time one team will have to win.
For Israel, this is the start of one of the sides most crucial rounds of matches, and is a chance to show that their football is worthy of a place in Euro 2024.
Photo courtesy: Israel Football Association
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