Israel’s youth soccer team is continuing to turn heads, now clinching a spot for the country in the Olympics for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Israel’s U-21 squad, which finished third in the World Cup last month, punched its ticket to Olympics with a win over Georgia on penalties, combined with an England win over Portugal on Sunday, in the UEFA Under-21 European Championship.
Because the top three from the tournament advance, but England cannot qualify for the Olympics, Israel is guaranteed a spot, along with Spain, which plays against France, another automatic qualifier, today.
It is the first time Israeli soccer will be in the Olympics since 1976. Israel has struggled on the international stage since being moved organizationally from Asia to Europe in the 1970s to avoid boycotts, but its youth team has recently found rare success, raising hopes for the future.
Israel will face England in the semifinal on Wednesday.
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Sunday, July 2, 2023
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