Israel defeated host Estonia 3-1 as Dan Bitton scored a brace in FIFA World Cup qualifying action in Tallinn.With the win, the blue-and-white swept the two contests against Estonia and moved into second place in Group I with a record of 2-1. Israel’s lone loss came against Norway back in March, which tops the group with three victories after convincingly dropping Italy 3-0 in the current window of matches.

Both sides had chances early on but it was Estonia who would find the back of the goal first as Mattias Kait beat Bayern Munich ’keeper Daniel Peretz for a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute. However, Israel countered very quickly and drew even when Dor Turgeman gave Bitton a perfect ball to put into the Estonia goal as the sides headed into the break all knotted at 1-1.

Israel came out of halftime firing on all cylinders and grabbed the lead when Bitton scored his second goal of the game off a Manor Solomon cross in the 49th minute, while Muhammed Abu Fani added a late penalty after Dor Peretz was yanked down in the box to give the blue-and-white the 3-1 win.

Israel will now head to Debrecen, Hungary, where it will welcome Slovakia for a friendly in which Ran Ben Shimon will have an opportunity to see some of the younger players in the squad in action. The next World Cup qualifiers will take place in September when Israel will play Moldova and Italy.

“We did it,” Ben Shimon began following the game.

OSCAR GLOUKH, still just 21, is expected to play a key role in Israel’s World Cup qualifier tonight at Estonia and in the following friendly against Slovakia. (credit: ISRAEL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, COURTESY)
OSCAR GLOUKH, still just 21, is expected to play a key role in Israel’s World Cup qualifier tonight at Estonia and in the following friendly against Slovakia. (credit: ISRAEL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, COURTESY)

'We are here to bring joy to the people of Israel'

“From a sporting perspective, these players deserve respect. They came to play here after a long season, and these June games are difficult. We fell behind against a tough team, and we came back. It’s a great sporting achievement. However, it was a very difficult day for the country after the loss of some of our soldiers. I saw the sadness in their eyes, and I knew that these were the guys I wanted to go to battle with. If we made the soldiers smile with the win, then it’s worth everything. This victory is dedicated to them.”

Solomon, who will be getting married this month, was thrilled with the win.

“This is a wonderful wedding gift, but it is mixed with joy and sadness. We came into the game after the news of the incident in Gaza, and every piece of news like that is a knife to our hearts. It was difficult for us to come into the game like that. Add to that the recent loss of Gadi Kinda, and it is not easy.”

In a disturbing situation that took place prior to the match itself on Friday, Estonian police descended upon the Israeli camp. They were looking to interrogate the captain of the squad, Eli Dasa, who has been playing for Dynamo Moscow in Russia.

During the pre-match press conference, a local journalist asked Dasa about his time in the country and playing for a Russian club, to which he responded: “I find myself an ethical person and really grateful for my years in Russia as a player. I was treated as a footballer and great as a person, and in the end it’s not about political stuff.”

Dasa wasn’t interrogated or questioned, though during the game itself local fans booed Dasa to which he responded: “a player hears boos for many reasons during a career. I take it with love. Every day of the last year and a half has been a rollercoaster. We are here to bring joy to the people of Israel.”