Israel Out Of Euro 2024 Chase, Ukraine In Dramatic Fightback
NDTV
Ukraine's hopes of making it to successive Euros were kept alive after a dramatic and very late come-from-behind 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.
Israel's hopes of reaching the European Championships for the first time against the background of bloody conflict at home were shattered by a 4-1 defeat to Iceland on Thursday while war-torn Ukraine stayed on course for the finals with a last-gasp comeback. Due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas, Israel's tie was switched to Budapest and their hopes of making the finals of any major competition for the first time since the 1970 World Cup enjoyed a confident start. On the half-hour mark, Daniel Leo Gretarsson was punished for bringing down Eran Zahavi.
The veteran Israeli striker picked himself up to steer his penalty past Hakon Valdimarsson in the Iceland goal.
The lead lasted less than 10 minutes, however, when Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson curled in a free-kick to equalise.
Just three minutes before half-time Iceland, who made the quarter-finals at the 2016 Euros, were ahead.
Gudmundsson swept over a corner and midfielder Arnor Ingvi Traustason was on hand to lash the ball home off a deflection which wrong-footed Israel goalkeeper Omri Glazer.
