The biggest Germany fans are sitting before the quarter-finals Nations League in Israel. Israeli national coach Ran Ben Shimon would love to avoid the German national team in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup – but for that to happen, his colleague Julian Nagelsmann’s selection must win the knockout duel with Italy in the Nations League.
“We don’t want to meet Germany in a football match,” said Ben Shimon the draw for the qualifying groups at FIFA headquarters in Zurich the SID and added with a smile: “Gladly on any other occasion.”
Israel in World Cup qualifiers in Group I
Basically, every opponent should be taken seriously, said the 54-year-old, “and that especially applies to Germany. But we try to do our best. We have a good team.” In Group I they will face the loser of the duel between Germany and Italy as well as Norway, Estonia and Moldova.
Football and sport in general “help us to forget everyday life a bit,” said Ben Shimon, referring to the war in the Middle East, “that is very important. The most important thing for me would be to bring the game back to Israel. That would be our greatest wish.”
Israel recently played its home games in Hungary. Being able to move back home “would mean that the circumstances would be a little calmer in Israel, because nobody wants the situation to be the way it is,” said Ben Shimon.
