FELCSUT – A European Championship qualifying game between Switzerland and Israel ended with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, a fit that introduced the Israeli staff to Hungary in the end scheduled video games in Tel Aviv have been postponed because of the Israel-Hamas war.
The fit was once one in all two “home games” Israel is webhosting in Felcsut, a Hungarian village of round 1,900 other people, because it chases a qualifying position in the Euro 2024 continental championship. If the staff qualifies, it is going to be its first time since becoming a member of the European football federation in 1994.
Ahead of the game, lovers draped in Israeli flags accrued outdoor the closely guarded stadium, making a song chants as their staff’s bus arrived.
The temper was once celebratory, however some lovers — a few of whom traveled from as some distance away as Israel to wait the fit — have been solemn in describing the importance of the competition.
“We’re going through a very, very difficult time right now, and it just felt right,” said Aaron Morali, an Israeli fan who drove two hours from Vienna, Austria to watch the game. “We’re Jewish, we’re here … It was very important for us to come here.”
Some lovers in the stands held up indicators bearing the faces of Israelis abducted right through the Oct. 7 Hamas assault inside Israel that killed round 1,200 other people.
As fears of antisemitic acts are on the upward thrust throughout Europe, the protection of the Israeli staff was once a decisive factor in bringing the rescheduled qualifying games to Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has a holiday home only steps away from the 3,500-seat Pancho Arena in Felcsut, has long claimed that Hungary is one of the safest places in Europe for Jewish people, and maintains close relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As the game approached, heightened security transformed the ordinarily quiet village, making the presence of police and other security forces apparent to local inhabitants.
“The village is a bit upside down, everybody going in and out of the facility is checked,” said Rikardo Mate, a Felcsut resident.
After Wednesday’s game, Israel remains in third place in Group I of Euro 2024 qualifying, behind Switzerland and Romania with 16 points each. The top two teams automatically qualify for Euro 2024 in Germany.
Israel’s subsequent fit in opposition to Romania shall be held in Felcsut on Saturday.
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