Forced to go into exile in Hungary due to the war in the Middle East, the members of the Israeli selection spoke before facing the French team Thursday evening in the League of Nations.
Special correspondent in Budapest
The atmosphere is heavy, the tension palpable. But the Israeli selection, which has been in exile in Hungary since the attacks of October 7, 2023 to continue playing football, is holding its head high despite the current context. Thursday evening, in front of 2000 spectators, most of them from Hungary, the 79e world nation will challenge the French team while having its head elsewhere, monopolized by the war in the Middle East. A match classified as “high risk” by UEFA and which will benefit from increased security.
For the press conference of the coach and the captain in the small stuffy room of the Bozsik Arena, only three Israeli media made the trip (3000 kilometers separate the two countries), one English and the majority being French. This meeting between Israel and France quickly faded into the background, with questions about the war quickly occupying the majority of questions. “ It’s a very difficult situation, when you have to defend your borders and people are taken hostage or killed.Eliel Peretz press conference entrance plant. It’s very difficult but it’s a privilege to play for our country and give hope to our fans. We are proud to be here, despite everything. »
Also read“We never forget who we play for”: how the Israeli football team lives during the war
The 27-year-old midfielder, who plays for Hapoel Be’er Sheva Football Club, continues, without revealing the slightest weakness. “ It’s a very strange situation to play in Budapest, but it’s a privilege to play football even though our country is at war. Playing without in front of fans, without an audience that supports Israel is something special. There are more important things than football but we do our best for us, the selection and the Israeli people. » In the process, it was the turn of coach Ran Ben Shimon, who met Didier Deschamps in Berlin during a meeting between technicians and reminded him of the defeat of the Blues against Israel in October 1993, to speak. In the same tone. Without animosity, but with strong words. Full of emotions. “ We don’t have the right to talk about difficulty when we talk about sporthe says. When we play, we have to put our personal life apart from life on the pitch, even if we are human beings, citizens of our country, we have to concentrate on our work. »
Asked about the state of his group, which must continue to play despite the war, with loved ones inevitably affected, the technician responds without batting an eyelid, accustomed to dealing with these themes for more than a year. “ It is our life, our mission that we must fulfill. Through all these situations we gain experience. In the Nations League, our goal is to learn. When we step on the field, we have to fight during every match we play. »
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