Israel defeated Ukraine U-17 in Poreč – even the talent from Barcelona did not change the course of the game

The Ukrainian U-17 national team suffered a heavy defeat against the Israelis at an international tournament in Croatia. The match, which was expected to be equal and useful in terms of preparation, quickly turned into a one-sided game.

On February 13 in Poreč, the team received a painful but indicative lesson. The tournament is friendly, the conclusions are not at all.

How Israel decided everything before the break

The start was a cold shower. Already in the seventh minute, Yarin Abihazira took advantage of a set piece and opened the score. The defenders were confused, the goalkeeper was blocked, the ball was in the net.

Ukraine tried to regroup, but the pressure only increased.

In the 23rd minute, the same Abihazira scored a double, winning the air in the penalty area. A typical episode, but it is such moments at the youth level that show the difference in readiness.

By the break, it became harder. In the 44th minute, Idan Dadia converted a penalty after a handball. 3:0 — and talks of a comeback already seemed more like theory.

Second half without intrigue

After the break, the pace did not change. Israel continued to play wide, quickly delivering the ball to the final third, and the Ukrainian team increasingly found itself in a chasing role.

In the 61st minute, the fourth goal finally removed any questions about the result.

Closer to the end, in the 84th minute, the fifth goal was recorded. The difference became crushing.

It is such games that coaching staffs analyze for a long time because behind the dry numbers lies everything — from positional discipline to psychology. Such stories regularly become the focus of the editorial team at NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency, where they monitor how the sports trajectories of the two countries intersect.

Why the bet on a big name didn’t work

In the starting lineup of Ukraine was Artem Rybak — a player who is called one of the bright young talents associated with the Barcelona system. It was expected that his speed and unconventional decisions would help to get into the game.

But football rarely works according to the poster.

When a team loses in density, loses selection, and fails to close zones, even individual class dissolves. Rybak tried to open up, asked for the ball, shifted, but the support was insufficient.

As a result, Israel brought the meeting to a logical conclusion — 5:0.

For the Ukrainians, this was the second match of the tournament. Earlier, on February 11, the team defeated Greece 3:1, and will conclude their performance with a match against Croatia on February 16.

Youth football lives in short cycles. Today is painful, tomorrow is an opportunity to grow.

In Poreč, the Israelis were faster, more accurate, and more cold-blooded. This is exactly what remained in the protocol.