Relegated Israel stunned Belgium 1-0 in their final Nations League game as Yarden Shua's late goal earned them their first win in the competition this season.
2024/2025 UEFA Nations League
1-0
Match Events
The Red Devils, who were without a number of key players for the tie in Hungary, were masters of their own downfall as they gifted Israel the winner with four minutes left on the clock.
In a cagey first half, Eli Dasa breached Belgium's backline 24 minutes in and beat Koen Casteels with a crisp low effort, only to be denied by the foot of the far post.
Casteels was alert just before the break, getting down low to push Dor Peretz's low drive away from the bottom corner.
Domenico Tedesco's half-time team talk looked to have buoyed his side as they upped the pressure, with Lois Openda hitting the side netting before Johan Bakayoko forced a fingertip save out of Daniel Peretz just after the hour.
However, in their rush to find a winner, Belgium were caught playing out from the back. Dor Peretz latched onto Matte Smets' loose backpass, and though he was bundled over in the box, Shua coolly picked out the bottom corner.
Israel finish bottom of Group A2 and are automatically relegated to League B, while Belgium sit above them due to a superior goal difference in their head-to-head record –they now have a relegation play-off to overcome.
Data Debrief: Tough times for Tedesco
It has been a Nations League campaign to forget for Belgium, who managed just one win and finished with a whimper as they went winless in their final four matches (D1 L3).
They just edged the shot count in Budapest, having 12 attempts to Israel's 10, but without the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne to call on, they lacked a clinical edge.
While Belgium struggled in attack, their defensive struggles will also be a worry for Tedesco. They failed to win any of the four games in which they fell behind in the group, earning just one point from a losing position.
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82' Highlight from Israel vs Belgium
86' GOAL! Israel 1-0 Belgium (Yarden Shua)
Line-ups
Israel XI: Eli Dasa, Shon Goldberg, Dor Peretz, Dean David, Raz Shlomo, Manor Solomon, Mohammed Abu Fani, Idan Nachmias, Daniel Peretz, Mahmoud Jaber, Oscar Gloukh
Subs: Roi Mishpati, Dia Saba, Yoav Gerafi, Dan Biton, Dolev Haziza, Yarden Shua, Omri Gandelman, Ethane Azoulay, Dor Turgeman, Ilay Feingold, Anan Khalaili, Nikita Stoyanov
Belgium XI: Casteels, Trossard, Castagne, Wout Faes, Dodi Lukébakio, Mangala, Openda, Ameen Al-Dakhil, Arne Engels, Zeno Debast, Arthur Vermeeren
Subs: Sels, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Maarten Vandevoordt, Killian Sardella, Johan Bakayoko, Samuel Mbangula, Norman Bassette, Matte Smets