Israel coach Alon Hazan wants his team to beat Kosovo in their delayed European Championship qualifying game on Sunday to bring “some happiness to our people.”
It is the first soccer match for Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and the ongoing war in Gaza. It had originally been scheduled for Oct. 15 but was postponed.
Squad list announced!This is the #Kosovo squad for the upcoming Euro Qualifiers Israel, Switzerland and Belarus.
Hajde Kosovë!#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/J10UOaB76O
— Kosovar Football (@kosovarfootball) November 10, 2023
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The Group I match in Pristina is being held under tight security measures surrounding the Israeli team.
Hazan and captain Eli Dasa said the team felt safe.
“We will do anything we can in order to win this match … bring some happiness to our people,” Hazan said Saturday.
Israel is third in its group with 11 points after six games. Romania leads with 16 points (eight games) and second-place Switzerland has 15 points (seven games).
Wins for Switzerland, Romania and Israel ✅How things stand in Group I… #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/2TeXLwK0zJ
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) September 12, 2023
Israel has never qualified for a European Championship since fully joining UEFA in 1994, and will now have to play four matches in 10 days.
Hazan expects a tough game with Kosovo, saying that “We have to work very hard if we want to make our wishes (come true).”
Kosovo is fourth in the group with seven points from seven games.
Israel is the most recent country to have recognized Kosovo after Pristina’s Parliament declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - Associated Press)