The beautiful thing about the unbelievable is that it only remains unbelievable if it happens once. Once the unbelievable happens twice – certainly in a short period of time – it automatically becomes unbelievable. Lightning may not strike twice, but the Israeli national team at the U-20 World Championship does.
Three days after beating Japan by a goal in extra time, they did it again, this time in the eighth final against Uzbekistan. On the same pitch in Mendoza, at about the same minute, for the exact same goal. Ofir Haim and his actors shatter glass ceilings, build a new ceiling, and then shatter it too. "We prove that with faith Israeli football is capable of great things," the coach summed up another historic victory for the under-20 team. Another incredible victory.
Anan Halaili, who scores the goal that lifted Israel to the quarter-finals, Photo: AP
The dramatic victory over Japan in the last round of the group stage brought Ofir Haim's team two weighty things: the attention of the State of Israel, and expectations. In the first games, the Israeli team behaved as underdogs who perform better with their backs against the wall, and suddenly they find themselves as favorites who go onto the field with something to lose.
"We want these expectations and I'm sure these players will meet them," said Ofir Haim, who in the two days before the game was busy regulating his players' emotions. On the day after the first Mendoza miracle, he allowed them a day of rest that included meeting their families and traveling around the city, while the next day he returned the focus for the game against the Uzbeks – concluding training, video meetings, meticulous preparation for the encounter against the Asian champions.
The Israeli national team celebrates Anan Halaili's goal, Photo: Reuters
Meanwhile, the appeal of a successful Israeli team began to kick in at the height of March. Members of Mendoza's Jewish community held a meeting with Kan11's television crew, where the sides exchanged impressions and conclusions about the importance of the Israeli national team in Israeli society.
The conclusion that emerged from this meeting was one: everyone should take advantage of the opportunity and show up at the stadium to support Ofir Haim's group. At the same time, Israeli Mochilleros boarded planes and buses from Buenos Aires, Mexico, Chile and the surrounding area, determined to push the team to the quarterfinals. To that end, some of them purchased blue-and-white smoke grenades, which they used to light up the stands. The Argentine security guards did not like this and moved them to a secluded stand behind the gate, where they used their throats to cheer non-stop.
Ofir Haim's youth team celebrates on the grass in Argentina,
With this support, the team started well. Rui Nawi and Omar Senior were given a place in the line-up thanks to their good performance against Japan, and after seven minutes Thai Abd almost scored but his header was stopped by Kora. Later on, the Uzbeks also threatened Tomer Sarfati's goal, but the balls did not go either on this side or on the other side.
In the second half, Haim made substitutions and sent Shibli, Khalili, Kanzpolsi and Salman onto the field. The team stepped up the pressure and at the same time the Uzbeks pulled back. As with Japan, the feeling was that Israel would do it – it remains to be seen when and whom? Then it was the 97th minute, when the team received a loose ball on the verge of going wide. Eli Madmon was in no hurry with the elevation, he consulted with his friends about the required drill and only after receiving approval to raise a ball that exposed the Who – Anan Halili, a Maccabi Haifa player, pushed his leg and scored the historic goal – another in a series of many such players.
Ofir Haim, last night in Mendoza, photo: AP
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This time, unlike the madness against Japan, the celebration was bigger but more subdued. That's how a thing becomes believable – you get used to it.
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