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Israel’s Under-21 soccer team is set to clash with England in the semifinals of the European Championship after the English national squad emerged victorious in their quarterfinal match against Portugal on Sunday.
The result not only propels England forward but also guarantees Israel’s place among the 16 teams that will qualify to compete in the soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The Under-21 tournament serves as a qualifying event for the Olympics, which is played at the Under-23 level, allowing each team to include three overage players.
With the top three teams, excluding France and England, securing Olympic berths, Israel has now booked its ticket alongside Spain, with Ukraine expected to claim the final spot. This marks Israel’s third appearance in the Olympics in soccer, having previously participated in 1968 and 1976.
Israel’s semifinal showdown against England is scheduled for Wednesday. While England enters the match as heavy favorites, having defeated Israel 2-0 during the group stage and maintaining a clean sheet throughout the tournament, Israel will aim to spring a surprise. The national junior teams of Israel have experienced a remarkable run of upset victories in recent months, fueling hopes of an unexpected triumph.
Israel’s journey to the semifinals has been nothing short of thrilling. In a tense encounter on Saturday evening, the Israeli squad triumphed over tournament co-hosts Georgia in a dramatic penalty shootout.
After neither side managed to score in regular or extra time, the shootout ultimately saw Israel emerge victorious with a 4-3 win on penalties. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz was awarded the man of the match accolade for his outstanding performance in keeping the Georgians at bay.
However, Peretz will be unavailable for the upcoming semifinal due to accumulating two yellow cards in recent games.
England played a pivotal role in Israel’s advancement from the qualifying round by defeating Germany, eliminating them from contention and clearing the path for the Israeli team to progress after their victory against the Czech Republic.
The stage is now set for an exciting encounter between Israel and England, with both teams aiming to secure a spot in the final. Regardless of the outcome, Israel’s Under-21 soccer team has already made their mark by securing qualification for the Paris Olympics, a testament to their impressive performance and determination throughout the European Championship.