After earning their first point in the Nations League with a 0\u20130 draw against Kosovo, the Israel national team is already looking ahead to its next match. Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon and Ilay Feingold spoke ahead of the highly charged encounter with Ireland on Sunday, (21:45 Israel time), with the Blue and White looking to respond to the 3\u20130 defeat they suffered against the Irish in the previous meeting.<\/p>\n
Anan Khalaili is out, while Manor Solomon and Raz Shlomo are ill. Can you update us on the fitness situation?<\/strong> An entire country will be watching, expecting us to restore our pride on the pitch. The last time I asked you about this, you said that you had \u2018choked,\u2019 but the expectations will be similar this time too. How do you put the noise aside?<\/strong> You obviously analyzed the match against Ireland. What are the key points you want to see tomorrow, beyond the approach?<\/strong> The Ireland manager told us at his press conference that he hopes football will win because Israel will come looking for revenge.<\/strong> In hindsight, should you have played with a different system?<\/strong> After the previous game against Ireland, you said your players were unable to handle the pressure.<\/strong> There are players who may be missing. Will you take a risk and play them if necessary?<\/strong> Do you think the way this match has been handled by the football authorities has been appropriate?<\/strong> What do you think about the idea that perhaps, after these two matches, Israel and Ireland should say \u2018thank you very much\u2019 and never play each other again?<\/strong> Ilay Feingold spoke about the upcoming clash:<\/strong><\/p>\n Last week, your captain said you didn\u2019t perform the way you expected to. What has changed?<\/strong> On a personal level, what does it mean to be here? Is representing the senior national team a dream come true for you?<\/strong> You can also play as a center-back. Have you been prepared to start in place of Raz Shlomo?<\/strong> You weren\u2019t called up to the national team for two years. What did you feel during that period when you weren\u2019t being selected?<\/strong> We haven\u2019t really had the chance to speak properly with the players who came from MLS, given the short preparation period you\u2019ve had.<\/strong> Are you talking about restoring your honor against Ireland?<\/strong> You were at Maccabi Haifa and played against European teams. How would you compare that with MLS? Do you feel you\u2019ve improved there?<\/strong> After earning their first point in the Nations League with a 0\u20130 draw against Kosovo, the Israel national team is already looking ahead to its next match. Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon and Ilay Feingold spoke ahead of the highly charged encounter with Ireland on Sunday, (21:45 Israel time), with the Blue and White looking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":153555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-192395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-israel-2","tag-israel","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u201cWe\u2019re treating them and, at the moment, we want to see who has recovered and who is having a slightly harder time. In any case, a very strong lineup will take the field and those who are in the best physical condition will play.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI know that we disappointed an entire country in the previous game. I\u2019m not disconnected from what\u2019s going on. I think tomorrow\u2019s game will be different, and our approach will be completely different. Sometimes things happen in sport and develop in ways we didn\u2019t want them to. I very much hope that those who watch us will be proud of us. We know what we\u2019re playing for, but ultimately we\u2019ll have to improve in every aspect so that people in the country can be proud of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt\u2019s pretty clear that we\u2019ll have to respond to their intensity and aggressive style in a completely different way. I think the key points are about our approach. I think we\u2019re a good, quality team, and we fell short in that respect in the previous game against Ireland. Let\u2019s see what we\u2019ve learned. We\u2019ll have to wait until tomorrow to see how we respond to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think my staff and my national team need a coach with maximum focus and concentration. I intend to do the best possible preparation, professionally on the pitch. I\u2019m coaching a good team that plays in a very intense manner, and I need to find a solution on the field. I\u2019m sure we have the answers within the squad. I very much hope that those who watch us tomorrow will feel proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll finish the camp and do the calculations. I don\u2019t think this is the right time for that. We need to be focused on how we win tomorrow, but there\u2019s no doubt that we\u2019ll find things that need to be changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe felt the pressure on our shoulders. We didn\u2019t respond properly to what was happening. I believe things like that happen from time to time\u2014overthinking. I\u2019m trying to prepare them in the best possible way. In the previous meeting, I don\u2019t think I did a good enough job. I believe tomorrow will be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI will not risk any player. The best players are the healthiest ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor me, one thing was clear from the beginning. Our federation dealt with everything surrounding the match; I deal with everything that happens on the pitch. As for everything going on around it, I think our federation is handling it well. I trust their loyalty and humanity. I\u2019m focused only on how I can prepare my players in the best possible way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been through a divorce once. It\u2019s not something pleasant. Throughout Europe, we\u2019ll play against everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think what happened last week has already happened. We\u2019re professional players and we know what we need to do. We need to improve our performance, and we\u2019ll do our best.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that it\u2019s an enormous source of pride for me. Everyone knows how important tomorrow\u2019s game is. I think the key is to come out and rise above what happened last week, put in a good performance, and take these three points.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI\u2019ll play wherever the national team needs me, in any position. Luckily, I know how to play in several positions. Wherever Ran [Ben Shimon] needs me, I\u2019ll give my best for the national team.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMainly, I knew I needed to work on certain aspects of my game. I knew that Ran and the staff were following all the players playing abroad. In every training session, I pushed myself to the limit. The moment they called me up, I knew I had to fight for every minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFrom my perspective, and I can speak for all of us, it\u2019s an enormous source of pride to come and represent our country. The body does need to adjust, but when you\u2019re called up, you do it no matter what. I hope that tomorrow we\u2019ll show that desire on the pitch as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe\u2019re not talking about honor. We\u2019re not focusing on the noise around us; we\u2019re trying to stay focused.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI think a lot of Israelis tend to underestimate this league. The American league is on an upward trajectory. I do feel that I\u2019ve improved as a player, that I\u2019ve learned a lot about myself. I have my ambitions, and I hope this is another step along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"