Israel’s national soccer team tied Romania 1-1 on Saturday evening in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier match.
The draw before 49,193 fans at Bucharest’s National Arena left the Blue and Whites in the same position before taking the field—in third place with 8 points. That is 1 point behind second-place Romania and 3 points behind first-place Switzerland, which tied Kosovo 2-2 away on Saturday. The top two countries advance to next summer’s tournament in Germany.
Andorra tied Belarus 0-0 in Saturday’s other Group I match.
Romania hit the back of the net first with a strike by Denis Alibec in the 27th minute. Israel’s attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh, 19, who plays his club soccer for Red Bull Salzburg, responded with a goal at the 53-minute mark.
Israel hosts Belarus at Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa on Tuesday before taking on Switzerland at the same venue on Oct. 12.
While Israel is fighting for a trip to Germany next year, the team has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Israeli soccer will be heading to the Olympics for the third time.
