Israel loses 5-4 to Italy in ‘crazy’ rollercoaster World Cup qualifier

Israel suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Italy in Monday night’s World Cup qualifier in Debrecen, Hungary, scoring four goals against the four-time World Cup winners but still losing the match.

Israel led 1-0 and again 2-1, before Italy soared to a seemingly invincible 4-2 lead. But Israel would not give up and scored twice to tie the match at 4-4, only for Italy to notch the winning goal in the final minutes.

Israel’s players wore black armbands during the playing of the national anthems, in honor of the victims of Monday’s deadly terrorist attack in Jerusalem.

Israel’s coach Ran Ben Shimon praised the tenacity and “courage” of his players after the game. “We have an amazing group” of players, he said.

He said he was very proud of the performance, with Israel coming so close to defeating one of the world’s top teams before sliding to defeat itself, but acknowledged that the result “feels a little sour.”

“We didn’t win three points,” he said, “but we earned the trust of the people watching at home, and proved that we’re unbreakable.”

Some Italian fans turned their backs to the field during the playing of “Hatikvah.” Ben Shimon said he was not fazed. He said he hoped his team gave Israelis at home something positive on a terrible day.

There were also angry scenes on the field at the end of the game, with players from the two sides arguing and confronting each other before calm was restored.

The result badly dents Israel’s prospects of qualifying for next year’s World Cup. Israel now sits third in qualifying Group I, behind group leaders Norway and Italy.

The top team in each group qualifies directly for next year’s finals, with the runners-up going into the playoffs.

Drama from start to finish

Italy almost fell behind in the fourth minute when Gianluigi Donnarumma punched the ball into his own net from a corner, but Israel’s Stav Lemkin was adjudged to have fouled the goalkeeper.

The Italians continued to look shaky at the back and Nicolo Barella’s lazy back pass was almost pounced on by Eliel Peretz before Donnarumma made a desperate clearance.

However, Israel took a deserved lead in the 16th minute. Eli Dasa passed to Dan Biton whose pull-back from the byline was turned into his own goal by Locatelli.

Italy found the equalizer five minutes from the break.

Mateo Retegui laid a pass off to strike partner Moise Kean, whose powerful low shot from outside the box found the bottom corner.

Kean forced Israel keeper Daniel Peretz into a save shortly after the interval with a shot on the turn, but it was Israel that took the lead again in the 52nd minute.

Manor Solomon twisted and turned his way into the area before laying off a pass that Dor Peretz whipped first time beyond the reach of Donnarumma.

Italy was almost immediately back on terms, with Kean once more to the rescue two minutes later. Retegui made the decisive pass and Kean smashed a half-volley from the edge of the area.

Retegui was the provider yet again when Italy went ahead for the first time in the 58th minute, as Matteo Politano poked home his deft back-heeled pass in the box.

Italy looked to have sealed the win when substitute Giacomo Raspadori netted with nine minutes remaining before Alessandro Bastoni’s own goal in the 87th handed Israel a lifeline.

Israel thought it had snatched a draw and dented Italy’s qualifying hopes when Dor Peretz headed his second past Donnarumma from close range in the 89th, but the drama was not over yet.

The game had just entered added time when Sandro Tonali took an opportunistic shot from outside the area that flew past the keeper, and Italy somehow kept their World Cup qualifying hopes ticking over.

“It was a crazy game,” Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli said at the final whistle.

Gennaro Gattuso, Italy’s coach, said the same: “‘It’s the craziest game I’ve been involved with as a coach, but it is my problem and not that of the players.”

“We were crazy to systematically go on the attack. That’s what Israel were waiting for, they hit us on the counter every time.”