5-2!
What happened there?

--
Manchester United FC - CHAMPIONS
Latest: England '13 (20th) Europa '17, UEFA '08, World '08

On 2021-09-04 15:08, anders t wrote:
> 5-2!
> What happened there?
>
>
Dunno , but it is bad news for Scotland, because they will be angry now.
To keep the very faint hope of a fluke qualification alive, Scotland
need at least 4 points from their next two games. And possibly even a
point or 3 from an already-qualified Denmark in the final game.

On Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 5:08:22 PM UTC-4, anders t wrote:
> 5-2!
> What happened there?
>

Pfft...Israel putting four or more past Austria at home is par for the course. That's already the 3rd time in the past 25 years (5-0 in 1999, 4-2 in 2019, 5-2 yesterday). Of course, the only time Austria managed to eke out a draw was when it really mattered (and I was in the stands...)

On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 7:54:41 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 5:08:22 PM UTC-4, anders t wrote:
> > 5-2!
> > What happened there?
> >
> Pfft...Israel putting four or more past Austria at home is par for the course. That's already the 3rd time in the past 25 years (5-0 in 1999, 4-2 in 2019, 5-2 yesterday). Of course, the only time Austria managed to eke out a draw was when it really mattered (and I was in the stands...)

The other funny thing is now there is strong Israeli-Austrian football connection: the Israeli coach is Austrian (Willibald Ruttensteiner), who replaced another Austrian (Andy Herzog, the guy responsible for Austria eking out that 1-1 draw), and two of the goalscorers yesterday (Dabbur and Weissman) made their leap in the Austrian league.

anders t a formulé la demande :
> 5-2!
> What happened there?

And what happened in Malta four days ago ?
OK, Cyprus is not the stongest team in the world... But to lose
3-0 versus Malta...

--
Ixion
Bordeaux premier club à remporter la coupe
de France sans jamais jouer à domicile.
A jamais les premiers.

On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 8:04:03 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:

> The other funny thing is now there is strong Israeli-Austrian football connection: the Israeli coach is Austrian (Willibald Ruttensteiner), who replaced another Austrian (Andy Herzog, the guy responsible for Austria eking out that 1-1 draw), and two of the goalscorers yesterday (Dabbur and Weissman) made their leap in the Austrian league.

Having watched the highlights (13 minutes, here: https://highlightsfootball..net/video/israel-vs-austria-highlights-2/), Israel was somewhat lucky not to lose this match 7-5.

Also, some interesting political background surrounding Munas Dabbur's goal.. During the last round of Israeli-Palestinian violence, Dabbur (who is an Israeli Arab, or Palestinian-Israeli, if you prefer) shared a somewhat inflammatory pro-Palestinian post on social media. This didn't go too well with the Jewish-Israeli public, and he was suspended from the national team for the May-June friendlies. Eventually, he had a "clarification meeting" with his teammates, and was recalled to the NT, but was soundly booed by part of the home crowd during the match, and even after he scored.

I have mentioned in the past that football has often been an example of peaceful coexistence in Israeli society. Is that unraveling too? Sad.

On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 1:54:41 PM UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 5:08:22 PM UTC-4, anders t wrote:
> > 5-2!
> > What happened there?

Israel had the better strikers (our only good one is out until the winter break, and I'd love to have all of Dabbur,
Weissman and Zahavi on our team), and an extraordinary conversion rate. Their first four shots on target all went in.
xG was something like 2-2.5.

> >
> Pfft...Israel putting four or more past Austria at home is par for the course. That's already the 3rd time in the past 25 years (5-0 in 1999, 4-2 in 2019, 5-2
> yesterday). Of course, the only time Austria managed to eke out a draw was when it really mattered (and I was in the stands...)

Exactly. It was only a tad worse than usual.

The thing is that on paper the result actually didn't matter all that much to us, since Denmark were basically out of reach
beforehand, and we're already all but qualified for the playoffs thanks to winning our Nations League group.
But what could make a (big) difference is seeded status - to rely solely on the Nations League boon could see us
suddenly facing underachievers like Spain or Italy in the playoffs.

So the mood around the NT has definitely soured, and they're now under a lot of pressure against Scotland. A second defeat
in a row might get Foda fired.

Ciao,
Werner

On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 3:34:03 PM UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 8:04:03 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:
>
> > The other funny thing is now there is strong Israeli-Austrian football connection: the Israeli coach is Austrian (Willibald Ruttensteiner),

I'm honestly happy for him. I didn't think they would stick with him after Herzog had jumped ship.

> > who replaced another Austrian (Andy Herzog, the guy responsible for Austria eking out that 1-1 draw), and two of the goalscorers yesterday (Dabbur and
> > Weissman) made their leap in the Austrian league.

Dor Hugi has fallen off badly after a bright start last season (7 goals in the first 10 games, and then 1 in the remaining 24) and is now in Poland.
Eliel Peretz has shown potential but was injured a lot, and currently it's Tai Baribo who's grabbing the most headlines.

> Having watched the highlights (13 minutes, here: https://highlightsfootball.net/video/israel-vs-austria-highlights-2/), Israel was somewhat lucky not to lose this
> match 7-5.
>
> Also, some interesting political background surrounding Munas Dabbur's goal. During the last round of Israeli-Palestinian violence, Dabbur (who is an Israeli
> Arab, or Palestinian-Israeli, if you prefer) shared a somewhat inflammatory pro-Palestinian post on social media. This didn't go too well with the Jewish-Israeli
> public, and he was suspended from the national team for the May-June friendlies. Eventually, he had a "clarification meeting" with his teammates, and was
> recalled to the NT, but was soundly booed by part of the home crowd during the match, and even after he scored.
>
> I have mentioned in the past that football has often been an example of peaceful coexistence in Israeli society. Is that unraveling too? Sad.

Even without that baggage, I have to admit that Dabbur despite having been a reliable goal scorer has never been the most popular player in
Salzburg. He's always come across as sort of... prickly?

Ciao,
Werner

On Monday, September 6, 2021 at 7:24:42 AM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:
> The thing is that on paper the result actually didn't matter all that much to us, since Denmark were basically out of reach
> beforehand, and we're already all but qualified for the playoffs thanks to winning our Nations League group.
> But what could make a (big) difference is seeded status - to rely solely on the Nations League boon could see us
> suddenly facing underachievers like Spain or Italy in the playoffs.
>
> So the mood around the NT has definitely soured, and they're now under a lot of pressure against Scotland. A second defeat
> in a row might get Foda fired.

Today's results:

DEN - ISR 5-0 Back to earth.
AUT - SCO 0-1 Back to earth x2

Scotland now firmly in the driving seat for the second spot. They host Israel on October 9. If they win, it's basically over. A draw should still be enough for Scotland, as long as they don't slip up in Moldova and the Faroes.. Austria likely to go through to the playoff anyway through the Nations League route.

On 2021-09-07, Futbolmetrix <daniele.paserman@gmail.com> wrote:
> Scotland now firmly in the driving seat for the second spot. They
> host Israel on October 9. If they win, it's basically over. A draw

Oh boy...

> should still be enough for Scotland, as long as they don't slip up
> in Moldova and the Faroes.

....which is eminently doable. Once upon a time it was historic wins
over France and Italy (or maybe just the away draw), and then a 3-1
loss in Georgia.

> Austria likely to go through to the
> playoff anyway through the Nations League route.

According to Kicker Foda's job is now really under pressure.

--
ciao, Bruce

On 2021-09-07 15:09, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> On Monday, September 6, 2021 at 7:24:42 AM UTC-4, Werner Pichler wrote:
>
>> The thing is that on paper the result actually didn't matter all that much to us, since Denmark were basically out of reach
>> beforehand, and we're already all but qualified for the playoffs thanks to winning our Nations League group.
>> But what could make a (big) difference is seeded status - to rely solely on the Nations League boon could see us
>> suddenly facing underachievers like Spain or Italy in the playoffs.
>>
>> So the mood around the NT has definitely soured, and they're now under a lot of pressure against Scotland. A second defeat
>> in a row might get Foda fired.
>
> Today's results:
>
> DEN - ISR 5-0 Back to earth.
> AUT - SCO 0-1 Back to earth x2
>
> Scotland now firmly in the driving seat for the second spot.

Scotland are never firmly anything. They always find a way to seize
defeat from the jaws of victory. Matches with Israel have been pretty
even (a lot of draws) regardless of venue, so they could easily drop 2-3
points there. And away wins against the Faroes and Moldova are anything
but guaranteed, as Bruce has pointed out. Some key players are injured,
and there is not the depth and experience in this squad.

They host Israel on October 9. If they win, it's basically over.

Nice try. Denmark, now pretty much safe, might start experimenting and
lose to Austria. Quite apart from the fact that I don't fancy us in a
playoff vs. Spain or Sweden; Turkey,Norway or the Netherlands; Serbia;
CH or Italy; Wales or the Czechs; Russia or Croatia; Poland; or Romania

A draw should still be enough for Scotland, as long as they don't slip
up in Moldova and the Faroes.

They probably will, though. I recall a bad result vs. the Faroes at one
point (draw maybe, on a windy cliff ?)

Austria likely to go through to the playoff anyway through the Nations
League route.
>

On Monday, September 6, 2021 at 1:33:01 PM UTC+2, Werner Pichler wrote:
> On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 3:34:03 PM UTC+2, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> > On Sunday, September 5, 2021 at 8:04:03 AM UTC-4, Futbolmetrix wrote:
> >
> > > The other funny thing is now there is strong Israeli-Austrian football connection: the Israeli coach is Austrian (Willibald Ruttensteiner),
>
> I'm honestly happy for him. I didn't think they would stick with him after Herzog had jumped ship.

Well, it's over now.
I'm kind of curious about the final assessment of his tenure in Israel.

Ciao,
Werner

On Monday, February 7, 2022 at 9:08:34 AM UTC-5, Werner Pichler wrote:
> > I'm honestly happy for him. I didn't think they would stick with him after Herzog had jumped ship.
> Well, it's over now.
> I'm kind of curious about the final assessment of his tenure in Israel.

Just read the report from the press conference announcing the end of the relationship. It was all pretty boilerplate stuff, "we thank Willi for the work he has done, he has laid the foundations for the further development of Israeli football, he will always be a welcome guest, etc."

I'll have to find out what the real feelings are...