Israel-Kosovo is a match from the first day of Group I of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played on Saturday at 18:00: tv, predictions.
This is the group that is likely to end up in the hands of Switzerland, the top-ranked selection. On the other hand, there is no clear favourite for second place. Excluding the uncompetitive Belarus and Andorra, one of the two direct passes could end up in the hands of Israel, Romania or the up-and-coming Kosovo.
For the Israelis, who a year and a half ago did not come close to qualifying for the play-offs for Qatar 2022, it represents a huge opportunity to return to the final stage of an international competition, as their last participation was over fifty years ago. In this sense, the recent promotion to League A of the Nations League bodes well: thanks to two victories and as many draws in the group with Iceland and Albania – originally there was also Russia, later excluded due to the aggression against Ukraine – the Israeli selection will be able to measure itself against the most emblazoned national teams of the old continent in the next edition of the event. At the helm of Israel is now former Watford player Alon Hazan, who succeeds Willi Ruttensteiner.
Kosovo possible outsider
Tel Aviv’s clash with Kosovo on the first day of the qualifiers already looks like a play-off. The Balkans, in fact, could upset the plans despite being a very ‘young’ selection.
Muriqi
Kosovo did well in their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, beating Bulgaria, Montenegro and the Czech Republic in a group that also included England, before being eliminated in the play-offs. Disappointing, however, was the path that should have led Muriqi and his teammates to Qatar 2022: Kosovo finished last in the same group as Spain and Sweden, collecting only five points. Things went better in the Nations League: in League C the Dardanets finished second, behind the unreachable Greece. On the bench there is no longer Bernard Challandes, but French football legend Alain Giresse. In attack he can count on the former Lazio man, who has returned to scoring in bursts with Mallorca.
The Prediction
Israel seems to have an edge in front of their home crowd, as the recent numbers confirm: in the last nine home games they have only conceded one defeat. The home team should therefore get a positive result in a match in which Kosovo is also likely to score.
The likely line-up for Israel-Kosovo
- ISRAEL (4-3-3): O. Glazer; Dasa, Vitor, Goldberg, Leidner; Peretz, Lavi, Kanichowsky; Haziza, Weissman, Solomon.
- KOSOVO (4-3-3): Muric; Hadergjonaj, Rrahmani, Kyreziu, Rrudhani; Celina, Berisha, Muslija; Rashica, Muriqi, Zhegrova.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
