Israel and Belgium, the bottom two teams in UEFA Nations League Group 2, will face off on Sunday in a crucial match that will determine their top-tier status.
Both sides have struggled mightily in the current campaign, with Israel sitting at the foot of the group without a win. Belgium, despite their pedigree, have also under-performed, winning just one of their six matches.
The Belgians’ slim hopes of reaching the Nations League quarter-finals were extinguished by a 1-0 loss to group leaders Italy on Thursday. Sandro Tonali’s first-half goal proved the difference, as Belgium’s star-studded attack, including Romelu Lukaku, failed to find an equalizer.
Israel, ranked 81st in the world, have been outmatched at the top level, though they did manage a creditable 0-0 draw against France in their last outing. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz was the hero, keeping a clean sheet in the near-empty Stade de France.
Sunday’s match at Budapest’s Bozsik Stadium represents a must-win for both sides. Israel can only avoid automatic relegation to League B if they beat Belgium by three goals or more, while the Red Devils need a victory to have any chance of making the relegation playoff in March.
With the futures of managers Ran Ben Shimon and Domenico Tedesco potentially on the line, this clash promises to be a tense and high-stakes affair as two underperforming giants battle to preserve their top-division status.
- Score Prediction: Israel 0-2 Belgium