Dim Amor
Israel's amputee football team recorded a historic achievement in the Division C tournament of the European Nations League, which concluded yesterday in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, finishing second out of five teams without conceding a single goal throughout all matches. The tournament took place between October 16-20 under the auspices of the European Amputee Football Federation. The Israeli team, considered an underdog before the opening, displayed impenetrable defensive play alongside impressive offensive capabilities, joining Spain as one of only two teams across all league divisions to finish without conceding goals.
The tournament was held as part of the European Amputee Football Federation's biennial initiative, designed to allow teams to compete in years without European championships or World Cups. The league was divided into four divisions by strength, with Division C including Ukraine, Israel, Netherlands, Belgium, and host Azerbaijan. Simultaneously, Division A featured England, Turkey, Poland, and Italy; Division B included Spain, Ireland, France, Germany, and Georgia; and Division D comprised Scotland, Kosovo, Albania, and Romania.
The Israeli team opened the tournament with an impressive 2-0 victory over Ukraine, which was expected to be the main contender for the title. The victory placed Israel in a leading position and created shock among the participating teams. In the second match, Israel drew 0-0 with host Azerbaijan, in a performance that demonstrated tactical discipline and defensive stability. Another draw came against the Netherlands, again with a 0-0 result, as the Israeli defense continued to withstand pressure and prevented significant breakthroughs. In the final match, Israel defeated Belgium 5-0, in an aggressive performance that also showcased the team's offensive potential.
Israel's match record totaled two victories, two goalless draws, and seven goals scored versus zero goals conceded. The final Division C standings placed Ukraine in first place after defeating Azerbaijan 3-1 in the decisive match, with Israel in second, Azerbaijan third, Netherlands fourth, and Belgium fifth. Ukraine advanced to Division B for the 2027 season, while Belgium was relegated to Division D.
Israeli player Maman Ben won the Division C top scorer title, a personal achievement that attests to the quality of the team's offensive lineup. Official data from the European Federation places Israel alongside Spain, which won Division B, as the only two teams across all league divisions to finish without conceding goals. In the tournament's opening match, Azerbaijan defeated Belgium 3-0, while Netherlands beat Belgium 5-0. Ukraine defeated Netherlands 2-1 and Belgium 4-0, while Azerbaijan beat Netherlands 1-0.
Zach Shaharur, the Israeli team representative, stated before the tournament began that the team is proud to represent Israel in the Nations League and works hard every day to improve. Shaharur noted that the team looks forward to competing against strong opponents and believes that nothing is impossible. The statement materialized in practice as the team displayed physical ability, team unity, and tactical discipline throughout all championship days.
The tournament was conducted in a sportsmanlike spirit, with Ukraine noting Israel as one of the toughest and fairest opponents. The Azerbaijani hosts also praised the Israeli team's tactical ability and its capacity to block attacks without giving up offensive play. The entire event took place in the presence of many local fans who showed support for all teams.
The European Amputee Football Federation published an official report praising all participants, with special reference to the Israeli team. The report stated that every team showed great heart and soul, and that Israel particularly impressed by finishing second without conceding a goal and displaying inspiring team play. The Federation thanked Azerbaijan for the excellent hosting and organization, noting its contribution to advancing the sport.
This achievement marks a significant stage in the development of Israel's amputee football team. Since the league's establishment, this is the highest ranking achieved by an Israeli team in an official European tournament in this sport. The second-place finish may lead to invitations to additional international tournaments and increased public exposure for the sport in Israel. The European Federation noted that the league's goal is to promote equal sport, encourage rehabilitation through team play, and allow teams to move up or down divisions according to performance.
The city of Baku, which hosted the tournament, received praise for the conditions it provided to the teams and for the supportive atmosphere. The Federation emphasized that the exemplary hosting contributed to the sense of equality and professionalism of the event. The matches took place over just three days, at high intensity that required rapid recovery between games from the players.
The Israeli team will remain in Division C for the 2027 season as well, with the accumulated experience and earned reputation potentially positioning it as a candidate for promotion in the future. The players returned home with the Division C runner-up title and the top scorer title, achievements that illustrate the team's potential at the European level. The European Federation published all match results and rankings on the official website, with the data confirming Israel's second place and the fact that it did not concede goals.
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