Israeli football is Guy Luzon, and Guy Luzon is the mirror image of Israeli football. One day caresses, another day slaps.
Daniel Peretz and Guy Lauzon after securing a place at the Paris Olympics
Yesterday it was a real slap, a strong nose to the face that landed us back to the ground. The same talented team, which worked magic and boosted the broadcasting corporation's ratings to World Cup numbers, fell apart at the moment of truth, barely making it across the midfield line against the English Lions. Football is Cumming Home, and Israelis return home only with compliments and momentary national pride.
Guy Luzon, Photo: Assi Kieffer, Israel Football Association
The journey we took on the way to the continental semifinals was also a real journey for Luzon, the coach of the young team. Luzon is the scion of an illustrious and influential family of businessmen in the industry, an arrogant and philosophical man who is considered controversial on the sports street. Less than a year ago, during the Euro qualification match, he was filmed slapping one of his players and almost a public "concel". "A slap? It was barely a pet," he muttered at the time, somehow keeping his job despite the storm.
Luzon has always carried on him an arrogant media persona that antagonized football fans, regardless of color or team. But somehow, after the very successful tournament for him, there is suddenly a feeling in the air today that Luzon has been crowned a presenter of change.
Guy Luzon, photo: Kan 11
And so, from game to game, the coach swept up the same media that liked to criticize and sting him. Suddenly, the commentators began to praise him, and he stopped making pompous, approaching and arrogant statements, as usual. For the first time in his career, Luzon was able to control himself and embody the responsible adult. So could Luzon have matured?
"Children of the revolution," he calls his young students, and conveys a revolution to him as well. He still crashes on the grass celebrating exiles, but the interviews and statements he has given in recent days have been prudent, modest and stately. "Maybe I've matured a little bit, that's what it is," he explained to Kan 11 just before kick-off. Later, in his closing interview with the channel minutes after the loss, Luzon had trouble holding back tears, broke down in front of the cameras and cried.
Guy Luzon, Photo: EPA
Luzon is a mirror image of Israeli football. One day the industry is on the verge of moral bankruptcy, an inflation of violence, scandals and conflicts; And the next day our football is a symbol of victories, achievements and coexistence. Petting day - slap day. Just like Guy Luzon.
Israel national team in the semi-finals of Euro, U21, 18:00, 11
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