What next for the Israel national team?

Israel’s Nation League dream may be over in terms of this latest run, as they finished bottom of the table. They ended on the same number of points as Belgium (4) but had a -8 goal difference compared to Belgium’s -3. However, it’s not all doom and gloom based on recent results.

It would be very easy to look at the results Israel have had in Nations League A between September and October and think all hope is lost. They lost four games in a row – Belgium (A) 3-1, Italy (H) 1-2, France (H) 1-4, and Italy (A) 4-1. As you’d expect, they were always a huge underdog in these games, according to football betting online, due to the strength of the competition. But then something changed.

In the final two Nations League games, both taking place last month, Israel drew with France away from home and then defeated Belgium on home soil. Now, you could argue that France had already achieved what they set out to achieve, but this was a team featuring the likes of Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. It was a very strong starting XI.

Belgium also knew their fate, but again, manager Domenico Tedesco put out a string team featuring the likes of Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and RB Leipzig’s Lois Openda. After being defeated comprehensively by both France and Belgium previously, drawing 0-0 with the former and recording a 1-0 victory against the latter is something to take note of.

So what’s next? The first thing that must happen is Israel must build on these recent results because they’re significant. It’s a draw and a win against two of Europe’s leading nations. And to be able to do this after a run of four comprehensive reverses, which included a 3-1 loss to Belgium and a 4-1 defeat to France, tells its own story. It proves this Israel squad has what it takes mentally.

On the pitch, manager Ran Ben Shimon will now know what works for Israel and what doesn’t work. Playing a five, be it in defence or midfield, depending on the opposition, definitely fits the players at Shimon’s disposal. Against France, a strong team who play on the front foot, especially at home, it was a back five for Israel, and it worked effectively. While Israel gave up over 70% of possession, of France’s 24 shots, only one was saved.

Against Belgium, Israel moved between five in defence and five in midfield, with Dor Peretz capable of playing in a defensive midfield role and at centre-back. This allowed tactical flexibility and saw Israel do better offensively than they did against France while not totally squandering things on the defensive front. It was another game from which Shimon would have taken a lot.

Moving forward, Shimon, who has been Israel's manager since May 2024, will have to continue to tweak things tactically, preparing for each opposing team by doing his due diligence. By doing this, Israel can compete with the best, as proven. They also have stars of their own in the form of Oscar Gloukh and Manor Solomon, and they are match winners on their day.

This article was written in cooperation with TalkSportBet