Israel comprehensively beaten in Northern Ireland friendly
Andreas Herzog's side slumped to its second defeat in four days, losing 3-0 in Belfast
Israel suffered its second defeat in four days after they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 in an international friendly against Northern Ireland.
Having slumped to a 1-0 defeat in Albania in it’s opening UEFA Nations League match on Friday, Andreas Herzog’s side fared even worse in Belfast, succumbing to first half goals from Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas, before substitute Gavin Whyte scored with his first touch in international football.
Two games into the job, the only cause of celebration for Herzog over the past week was him celebrating his 50th birthday with the players. Speaking ahead of the Northern Ireland match, he said: “It was great, I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks so it’s good for the players to get an idea of me and I learn everyday more about my players and that’s important for the future of course.
“It’s my 50th birthday, it’s a special day but the players were singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me in all different kinds of languages.”
Played on the second night of Rosh Hashanah, six of the players went to a local synagogue on Monday, while only one Israeli journalist travelled to Belfast to cover the game.
Israel resume its Nations League Group C1 campaign, when they face Scotland on 11 October, before hosting Albania at home three days later.
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