Commencing their Euro 2024 qualifying campaigns, Group I rivals Israel and Kosovo clash on Saturday at Bloomfield Stadium.

While both nations missed out on last year's World Cup, a wide-open draw offers either side an opportunity to reach next summer's continental finals.

Match preview

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Twenty teams will earn their place at the next European Championship through a top-two finish in qualifying, while another three will join them and hosts Germany via the playoffs.

Drawn in a section also featuring Romania, Belarus, Andorra and clear favourites Switzerland, that leaves Israel with legitimate hope of ending their long wait to reach a major finals at senior level - one which dates back over 50 years.

Most recently, they failed to make Qatar 2022 after finishing behind Denmark and Scotland in their qualification group, but there have been several signs of progress.

A 2-1 win over Albania in their final Nations League game last autumn secured promotion to League A of the competition for the first time, and they will have the chance to tackle Europe's elite in the 2024-25 campaign.

That success followed the appointment of Alon Hazan as head coach, with the former Watford midfielder having served time as both assistant and caretaker in addition to overseeing various age groups in the Israeli national setup.

Hazan is now tasked with leading his country to a first-ever Euros since they formally swapped Asia for Europe in 1994, and they may never have a better chance.

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While Israel have only been a UEFA member for around 30 years, Kosovo first participated in European Championship qualifying ahead of Euro 2020 - a finals they were not too far away from reaching.

On that occasion, they beat Bulgaria, Montenegro and the Czechs Republic in a group also featuring eventual finalists England to take second place but subsequently fell just short in the playoffs.

However, their pursuit of a place in Qatar saw the Dardanet win just once during a difficult qualification series, which left them rock-bottom of Group B.

French football legend Alain Giresse then took over from Bernard Challandes as Kosovo's head coach and led his new side to a relatively successful Nations League campaign last year.

After winning three and losing three of their six matches to finish second in League C Group 2 behind Greece, they then rounded off 2022 by drawing friendlies against Armenia and the Faroe Islands in November.

Once nicknamed "the Brazil of the Balkans" - a moniker first applied during a fifteen-match unbeaten run four years ago - the current Kosovo squad also possess plenty of talent. Given their group draw, they may feel a place in Germany is now up for grabs and that there is every chance of writing themselves into history.

Team News

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Israel's squad this month - for Saturday's game and next week's encounter with Switzerland - has seen Alon Hazan continue to draw upon some less experienced players, including Oscar Gloukh, who played a major role in his team's run to last year's Under-19s Euros final and joined Red Bull Salzburg in January.

Eighty-seven-cap skipper Bibras Natcho represents the older guard alongside Dynamo Moscow defender Eli Dasa and may play a part in midfield; Fulham's Manor Solomon starts on the wing.

Liel Abada has become a bit-part player at Celtic of late but is still in contention to support Shon Weissman up front after overcoming a quad muscle injury scare in training.

Kosovo, meanwhile, selected three Ligue 1 players in their squad, including Lille's Edon Zhegrova, but Elbasan Rashani of Clermont has since withdrawn due to injury.

The Dardanet's defensive rock Amir Rrahmani has excelled for Napoli this season, while Mallorca frontman Vedat Muriqi should lead the line in attack. Despite a lack of alternative strikers, Ermal Krasniqi - currently enjoying some fine form at club level in Romania - has only been left on standby.

Lugano midfielder Uran Bislimi is unavailable too, as after playing in November's friendly fixtures he has now targeted an international future with Switzerland instead - the two teams will meet later on in the Group I qualifying process.

Israel possible starting lineup:
O. Glazer; Dasa, Vitor, Goldberg, Leidner; Peretz, Lavi, Kanichowsky; Haziza, Weissman, Solomon

Kosovo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Hadergjonaj, Rrahmani, Kyreziu, Rrudhani; Celina, Berisha, Muslija; Rashica, Muriqi, Zhegrova

We say: Israel 2-1 Kosovo

The first competitive meeting between these nations could be a feisty one, as a lot is on the line even at this stage of the qualifying process. Israel scored plenty of goals last year, while their visitors also offer a real threat up front: a home win could be on the cards, though, as the Kosovars do not tend to travel well.


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