As the Israel national soccer team prepares for its Euro 2024 qualifying playoff semifinal matchup with Iceland on March 21, the team also received its group for the UEFA Nations League competition this fall. Israel, currently ranked No. 75 in the world, will face a challenging schedule in pool play from September to November with six matchups against each team. Italy, France, and Belgium are the three countries in League A Group A2 with Israel. Let’s examine each of Israel’s opponents for the Nations League:
ITALY
Photo Cred: IG
Israel will have its hands full with Italy. Italy’s national soccer team is currently ranked No. 9 in the world. Italy has rebounded after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, making it to the Euro 2024 tournament. Luciano Spalletti’s team advanced from group C after a 0-0 draw with Ukraine in their final matchup. Some players to watch out for from Italy include Juventus midfielder Federico Chiesa, Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, U.S. Sassuolo Calcio forward Domenico Berardi, Inter Milan defender Matteo Darmian, SSC Napoli forward Giacomo Raspadori, and AS Roma forward Stephan El Shaarawy.
Frattesi scored both goals for Italy in its 2-1 victory against Ukraine in their first matchup during the Euro qualifiers back in September. Alessandro Bastoni is another key player for Italy’s national team. Bastoni, ranked as the ninth-best center-back in the world at just 24 years old, according to 90min.com. Israel will also face the challenge of scoring against goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, ranked No. 10 in the world by 90min.com and currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain.
FRANCE
Photo Cred: New Strains Times
Israel will also face a talented France team. France is ranked as the second-best team in the world after reaching the 2022 World Cup Final, ultimately falling to Argentina in penalties. Since the World Cup, the France national team qualified for the Euro 2024 tournament, cruising through the qualifiers with seven wins and one draw. Didier Deschamps’ squad had some impressive victories, including a 14-0 win over Gibraltar and two wins over the Netherlands, who also advanced from the group. The standout player for France is Kylian Mbappe, arguably the best player in the world right now and currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe scored all three goals in France’s loss to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, including two in around a minute towards the end of regulation. Mbappe also scored nine goals throughout the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The 25-year-old has already won several awards, including the ESPY awards’ Best International Soccer Player in 2022, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot, and a three-time winner of the FIFA FIFPRO World XI award. Israel will also have to contend with FC Bayern Munich forward and midfielder Kingsley Coman, Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram, Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Maignan is listed as the fifth-best goalkeeper in the world according to 90min.com.
BELGIUM
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Israel’s other Nations League group opponent will be Belgium, ranked No. 4 in the world. The Belgium national team failed to advance from the World Cup group stage in 2022 for the first time since 1998. Since the World Cup, Domenico Tedesco’s team has qualified for Euro 2024 with six victories and a draw. Some of Belgium’s notable wins include two victories over Estonia and a 3-2 win over Austria in October.
Romelu Lukaku will pose a challenge for Israel as he is the all-time leading scorer for the Belgium national team with 83 goals. The AS Roma striker scored 14 goals throughout the Euro 2024 qualifiers, including four goals in Belgium’s 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan in November. Other players to watch out for from Belgium are Sevilla FC winger Dodi Lukebakio, Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard, Al-Shabab FC midfielder Yannick Carrasco, and defenders Arthur Theate and Jan Vertonghen.
