On Tuesday, Israel will face Belarus at Tel Aviv's Bloomfield Stadium in a Euro 2024 qualifying showdown. Belarus' threat to the top two is almost over thanks to a disappointing draw in Andorra on Saturday.
Israel are still looking forward to their first major tournament appearance since their only successful qualifier for the 1970 World Cup. After the halfway point, Israel came alive in the tussle for the top two spots in what is looking more and more like a three-horse race.
An impressive draw in Romania could give them an edge in the second half of this section, even if they are still in third place. Romania have a potentially tricky game against Kosovo on the same night, so Israel will have to get the job done here by beating an opponent they are expected to beat.
Israel's 1-1 draw with Kosovo on opening match day may be something they regret, even if they were lucky to get a point in the end. However, looking ahead, Israel will also face Andorra in what looks like a very winnable match.
If they can beat the weaker team in the group in their final match, then they will face a home game with Romania which will be very appealing. However, Israel have a slightly shaky track record against Belarus, having beaten them by two goals in the last five minutes of their last game, which they lost to Belarus in their last home game in 2012.
For Belarus, their disappointment at not being able to beat Andorra will leave a bitter taste, especially after their excellent victory over Kosovo in June. That win raised the discussion that they could build some momentum and sneak into the top two.
Although they suffered a disintegration in Israel early in the group stage, new head coach Carlos Alos may see this match against Andorra as winnable. They have lost all three of their opening matches, meaning victory is a necessity, and if they can beat Andorra, they will now be three points behind in the qualifying phase at the midway stage. However, the challenge now looks insurmountable, even if they give a surprise here, as there is still too much way to go.
Looking at the recent performances of both teams, Israel have been buoyed by their excellent form since June, gaining seven points from their last three qualifiers. Belarus have also improved, but a poor draw with Andorra suggests they may struggle in Tel Aviv.
Looking at the lineups of both teams, Israel's key man Solomon is full of confidence after two assists in his Tottenham debut. Meanwhile, Israel's squad options are limited by the injury absence of Eden Kartsev. For Belarus, the experienced Poljakov and Max Ebong, who has been in excellent form during the European Union stage of the competition, are both key figures. Overall, it is expected that the result of this match could be Israel 2-0 Belarus.
