Ran Ben Shimon should have resigned immediately following Israel’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Ireland. If he was unwilling to step down, Israel Football Association (IFA) chairman Shino Zuaretz should have made the decision for him.

Ben Shimon failed to prepare his team, both mentally and physically, for a match of enormous significance. He knew what was at stake, not only from a sporting perspective but also given the political climate surrounding the game and the country itself.

Let no one tell you that sports and politics don’t mix. They always do.

The head coach had a responsibility to ensure that his players were fully prepared for battle. Instead, Israel looked completely unprepared, delivering a performance that was nothing short of disgraceful. There is simply no excuse for what unfolded.

Amid the anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric leading up to the match, the blue-and-white needed to respond on the pitch. Instead, they were nowhere to be found. Supporters watching from home could only look on in disbelief as Ireland scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes. To concede three goals so quickly against an opponent Israel should have been capable of competing with is simply unacceptable.

Israel’s defense was disastrous, but the attack was equally ineffective. After 180 minutes of Nations League action, the blue-and-white have scored just one goal. Where were Manor Solomon, Anan Khalaili, Oscar Gloukh and Dor Turgeman? What about Tai Baribo and Yarden Shua, who have received only limited playing time? And why did Ben Shimon leave Dor Peretz, arguably Israel’s best player and leading scorer, on the bench before introducing him at halftime?

The problems extend far beyond the defensive line. Israel has been unable to create consistent scoring opportunities, and that responsibility cannot rest solely on the players. The coaching staff must also answer for the team’s lack of organization, creativity and execution.

Ben Shimon spoke confidently about finishing first or second in the group. After losing the opening two matches, however, Israel now faces the very real possibility of finishing last. The team has struggled against both Austria and Ireland, and the coaching staff has clearly failed to find the answers needed to compete at this level.

Israel has endured plenty of disappointing performances over the years, but this one ranks among the most painful.

Years ago, when Andi Herzog was Israel’s head coach, he delivered an infamous postgame interview following another disappointing European qualifying campaign, “We always say that this is good, but we always concede three goals. We are not professional enough. When you concede a third goal, that’s horrible. We are always talking about qualification and then we make mistakes. That’s not possible. We always talk about something we dream about, but we have to do the decisive things on the field. We always make some stupid mistakes, we lose every game, and it’s not funny anymore.”

Herzog’s words remain painfully relevant today. Years later, Israel is still making the same mistakes, struggling with the fundamentals of the game and failing to translate its ambitions into results. The players must take responsibility, but so must the head coach and his staff. Nothing will change until everyone involved is held accountable.

Unfortunately, accountability has become a familiar problem in Israeli football. When things go wrong, responsibility is often shifted elsewhere rather than accepted by those in charge. The national team cannot afford to continue operating that way.

If Ben Shimon does not resign, the IFA must make the decision for him. He should not be on the sidelines for Thursday’s match against Kosovo or the subsequent meeting with Ireland in Serbia. After two consecutive defeats and such a disastrous performance, the federation must seriously reconsider its direction.

There are plenty of potential replacements, both Israeli and foreign. Barak Itzhaki, who led Beitar Jerusalem over the past couple of years, is among the domestic candidates who could be considered. There are also numerous other coaches who could take over and attempt to turn things around.

The IFA cannot afford to sit back and hope that the situation will somehow improve. Ben Shimon failed to deliver during World Cup qualifying and Israel has now opened its Nations League campaign with two defeats. The results and performances demand a serious response.

With Euro 2028 qualifying set to begin in March 2027, the IFA still has time to make a change and give the national team a fresh start. Bringing in a new coach would provide an opportunity to address the team’s shortcomings, correct its persistent mistakes and build a squad capable of competing at the international level.

Ben Shimon’s record as Israel’s head coach stands at eight wins, 11 losses and three draws, a 36.4% winning percentage. For a national team with aspirations of reaching a major tournament, those numbers raise serious questions about the current direction of the program.

The IFA desperately wants Israel to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since the 1970 World Cup. But simply talking about that ambition will not make it happen. Without meaningful changes, the wait could continue for years.

It is time for those responsible to accept accountability and make the difficult decisions necessary to move Israeli football forward.

The national team belongs to the people of Israel. The supporters deserve a team that competes with pride, commitment and determination, regardless of the circumstances. They deserve players who fight for the shirt and a coaching staff that prepares them to meet the challenges ahead.

Losing is part of sports. Sometimes, even the best teams come up short. But failing to show up, failing to compete and repeating the same mistakes without learning from them is something entirely different.

The question facing the IFA is no longer simply how Israel can recover from this defeat. It is whether they are willing to take responsibility and make the changes needed to ensure that this kind of performance does not become the norm.

The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now.