' fill='%230E4F97'%3E%3Cg id='Group-5' transform='translate(370.000000, 11.000000)'%3E%3Cg id='avatar' transform='translate(6.000000, 4.000000)'%3E%3Ccircle id='Oval' cx='8' cy='4' r='4'%3E%3C/circle%3E%3Cpath d='M7.12864205,10 L8.87135795,10 C11.558649,10 14.0087196,11.5384024 15.1762205,13.958831 L16,15.6666667 L16,15.6666667 L15.3374858,17.5134983 C15.228016,17.8186575 14.9774027,18.051811 14.6651459,18.1389975 L8,20 L8,20 L1.33485405,18.1389975 C1.02259733,18.051811 0.771984007,17.8186575 0.662514216,17.5134983 L0,15.6666667 L0,15.6666667 L0.823779545,13.958831 C1.99128041,11.5384024 4.44135104,10 7.12864205,10 Z' id='Rectangle'%3E%3C/path%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Israel trounces Latvia 3-0 with Zahavi hat trick in Euro 2020 qualifying game
National side stays in contention for next summer’s tournament; team to play group leader Poland on Monday
Israel beat Latvia 3-0 on Friday night in Riga, thanks to a hat trick from Eran Zahavi, defying expectations by staying in contention for a spot in the final tournament due to take place next summer in 12 cities in 12 European countries.
Zahavi curled in a free kick in the ninth minute and added two more goals in the second half, giving him seven in three qualifiers.
“I was happy to make the crowd happy,” said Zahavi, according to Channel 12 news.
On Monday, the Israeli national side will play an away game against group leader Poland. Poland is at the top of Group G with nine points, and Israel in second place with seven.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Qi7JgjcDY
In the last rounds of qualifiers before the summer break, world champion France and powerhouses Croatia, Germany and Italy will be in action on Saturday while the Netherlands, Portugal, England and Switzerland wrap up play in UEFA’s inaugural Nations League final four on Sunday.
AP contributed to this report.
