LONDON – Israel’s footballers are aiming to make history by reaching the European Championship for the first time amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the final three places at Euro 2024 up for grabs over the next week.
Twelve teams still have dreams of reaching Germany later in the summer, with three sets of four nations to face off in the play-off semi-finals on March 21 and the winners progressing to a final on March 26.
Israel became a member of European football’s governing body Uefa 20 years ago, but are yet to reach the continent’s major international competition.
The war between Israel and Hamas has forced Alon Hazan’s men to try and finish the job on the road, with no international matches going ahead in Israel for the foreseeable future due to security concerns.
Their semi-final against Iceland will be played in Hungary’s capital Budapest, with the winners facing Bosnia and Herzegovina or Ukraine away in the final.
If not for the conflict, Israel may have already qualified automatically as they were in a strong position before the attacks by Hamas on Oct 7.
On their return to action in November, they suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Kosovo and then failed to win either of their crucial qualifiers against Romania and Switzerland, which should have been at home but were instead moved to Hungary.
All that aside, it is still vital for Hazan that his side make it to Euro 2024. Israel last made it to a major tournament at the 1970 World Cup but perhaps there are more significant things than football, the coach suggested.
“(It) is more important for us that we can be proud of our country and give some happiness to change the atmosphere,” he told Sky News.
“This is more important than being part of the tournament.”
On the match against Iceland, he added: “I heard that Iceland is talking about the fact that they just have to get past us to reach the final so we are coming into this game as a kind of an underdog.
“We have to work harder than any team and do things at the highest level of commitment.
“This will be key to success.”
Should Israel get past Iceland, they could face a much sterner test in another nation determined to give their war-torn people cause to cheer – Ukraine.
After narrowly missing out on the 2022 World Cup, a squad containing the likes of Real Madrid’s Andriy Lunin, captain Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal and Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk are desperate to make amends.
Ukraine travel to Bosnia for their semi-final.
Whoever progresses from the League B play-off will face Belgium, Romania and Slovakia in the Euro Group E.
In the League A play-off, Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is looking to lead Poland to a fifth consecutive Euro.
They host Estonia in the semi-finals, with the winners travelling to either Wales or Finland, who face off in the semi-finals in Cardiff.
Wales boss Rob Page is relying on home advantage after losing generational talent Gareth Bale, who retired following the 2022 World Cup.
Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is an injury doubt, but Wales have lost only once in their last 14 qualifiers for the Euro in Cardiff.
Qualification could be a poisoned chalice though with France, the Netherlands and Austria awaiting the winners in Group D in the summer.
In the League C play-off, 2004 winners Greece are the favourites to reach their first major tournament in a decade.
They face a Kazakhstan side who shocked Denmark and Finland in qualifying.
A Georgia team featuring Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Luxembourg are also aiming to get to their first major tournament.
The chance to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal awaits the winners, alongside Turkey and the Czech Republic in Group F of the finals. AFP
