Herzog insists Israel are ready to go to war
Andreas Herzog wants his Israel side to be up for the battle against Scotland at Hampden Park this evening.
The Scots’ emphatic 4-0 victory over Albania in Shkoder on Saturday night took them on to six points in their Nations League Group C1 section alongside the visitors.
However, due to Israel’s 2-1 win over Scotland in Haifa last month, only a win for the home side will take them into the play-off spot for the 2020 European Championships and Herzog expects a “real fight”.
“First we have to go out and give the Scottish team a real battle,” said the former Austria midfielder, who arrived in Glasgow with his Israel squad on Sunday.
“That is what’s key at Hampden Park. If we are not aggressive and cannot match the energy then it will be a tough game for us.
“We all know it is a great chance for us.
“We are in first place in the group and we want to keep that position. We have to be ready for a lot of different circumstances and we have had a good preparation so far.
“From the beginning, we expect Scotland to put a lot of pressure on us and that’s why we need to be confident, calm and smart in possession.
“If we are able to create chances it will be a different thinking from the Scottish team and then it is an open game.
“They have great confidence after Albania, we have a lot of confidence so I expect a good game.”
History is on Scotland’s side. In their only previous visit to Hampden Park Israel lost 3-1 to the Scots in a World Cup qualifier in 1981, when John Robertson scored a first-half double and Davie Provan added the third early in the second half.
Israeli club sides have fared no better. Hapoel Tel Aviv have lost three times in Scotland, and Hapoel Beer Sheva, Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Haifa have all lost once.
However, Herzog doesn’t
“We are in first place in the group and we want to keep that position. We have to be ready for a lot of different circumstances”
ANDREAS HERZOG
think those results will have any bearing on tonight’s winner-takes-all showdown.
He explained: “It is a new team, a new opponent. Of course the Scottish team has a very good history, they are a very good team at home but I don’t care about the past.
“At kick-off we have to be ready and that’s what counts.
“We expect a tough game but it is a good challenge for us. This is a game we want to have.
“It is all about character and mentality and as a professional player this is what you train for.”