Israel have reached the quarter-finals of the Under-20 World Cup on their maiden appearance.
The Israelis booked their place in the semi-finals (quarter-finals) of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023 with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Brazil in the quarter-finals in San Juan, Argentina, on Thursday.
Brazil, winners of the South American qualifiers, were the favourites to win the tournament, but they were stymied by Israel, who have emerged as one of the biggest dark horses of the tournament.
Israel qualified for the tournament by winning last year’s UEFA Championship, which doubles as a World Cup qualifier. It was the first time in the country’s history that it had qualified for the U-20 World Cup.토토사이트
But Israel was suddenly embroiled in controversy. Indonesia, the host country of the World Cup, objected to Israel’s participation in the tournament on international relations and religious grounds. Not only the public, but also the governor of Bali, where the tournament was to be held, joined the campaign against Israel’s participation. FIFA, which strictly prohibits politics and religion from interfering in football, revoked Indonesia’s right to host the tournament, which was hastily awarded to Argentina.
Israel entered the tournament in a tense atmosphere, but their performance exceeded expectations. The defending UEFA champions breezed through the group stages, knocking out Uzbekistan in the round of 16 and then the strongest team in the quarter-finals, making history by reaching the last four in their first appearance. It’s a significant achievement for Israel, given the strength of their A team, which is ranked 78th in the FIFA rankings.
Israel will face the winner of the USA and Uruguay in the semi-finals. With one more win, they will make history by reaching the final in their first appearance.