Israel U21 vs England U21 prediction: EUROPE: Euro U21 – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-07-04 16:00.
Israel are targeting yet more history after they reached their first UEFA European Under-21 Championships semi-final while also qualifying for next year’s Paris Olympics in the process. Guy Luzon’s side, playing at the tournament for just the third time, booked their place in the last four at the weekend by squeezing past tournament co-hosts Georgia on penalties following a 0-0 draw across 120 minutes.
That was only a second victory in eight outings for the Sky Blue and Whites (D3, L3), and it’s fair to say their biggest problem lies in scoring goals given they failed to net in half of those fixtures. That includes a 2-0 group stage defeat to opponents here England, when Israel managed just one shot on target and a measly possession share of just 32%.
The Young Lions will therefore be confident of a repeat result as they look to reach their first final since 2009. They have been in ominous form at the tournament so far too, winning each of their four games without conceding a single goal, most recently beating the much-fancied Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals thanks to Anthony Gordon’s first-half strike.
Manager Lee Carsley was delighted with how England performed in that clash, reserving special praise for his side’s “team spirit and the way they stuck together in the second half.” He will now be hoping they can continue their impressive form under his stewardship by chalking up another victory, having won 12 of the 14 competitive internationals since he took charge in July 2021 (D1, L1).
Key battle: Israel defender and skipper Gil Cohen has kept only seven clean sheets in his 26 international matches at this level, with his side conceding exactly once on 13 occasions! He may be trying to stop the aforementioned Gordon, who has won each of his ten competitive England U21 games, netting six goals in the process.
Hot streak: England have won the last 13 games in which they have scored the first goal.