Preview: Israel vs. Belgium – prediction, team news, lineups

Both cut in League A group 2the bottom Israel and third place Belgium will fight to avoid automatic relegation i UEFA Nations League on Sunday.

After a dismal campaign, the Belgians just need to avoid losing by three goals in Budapest, although they still face the prospect of a relegation play-off.

Match preview

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Belgium’s slim hopes of securing a place in the Nations League quarter-finals were ended for good with their third defeat of the season on Thursday when Group 2 leaders Italy left Brussels with maximum points.

Sandro Tonali put the Azzurri in front after a costly miss Maxim De Cuyper – who had scored a stunning goal during October’s reverse fixture, a 2-2 draw in Rome – and despite their strong finish, the hosts could not fight back.

Stand-in captain Romelu Lukaku led wide and Wout Faes hit a post, but another defeat to the Red Devils will ultimately put more pressure on the under-fire manager’s shoulders Domenico Tedesco.

Including a rather miserable Euro 2024 campaign, his side have now won one of their last seven games – September’s 3-1 success against Israel on neutral turf.

In third place, with a three-point lead over Sunday’s opponents, Belgium look set for a relegation playoff which will determine whether they can retain their long-standing League A status.

It would take place in March, but it is doubtful whether their current coach will still be in charge: the Belgian FA have opened talks with an estranged star Thibaut Courtois about his potential return and the Real Madrid goalkeeper has vowed never to work with Tedesco again.

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Having picked up just one point so far, Israel’s fate is all but sealed as they can only enter the relegation play-offs if they beat Belgium by three goals or more at the Bozsik Arena.

Otherwise, they are relegated directly back to League B, from where they won promotion in the former Nations League.

Four defeats from four games in September and October back Ran Ben Shimons side stayed at the foot of Group 2, but they scrapped a draw in strange circumstances at the Stade de France earlier in the week.

The sky blue and white ones held their French hosts to a 0-0 draw on Thursday, amid an almost empty stadium and incidents of fan violence, with Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper Daniel Peretz excels at keeping zero.

Ranked 81st in the world by FIFA, Israel have been a little out of their depth in Europe’s top tier and even frustrating France with a dogged defensive display are unlikely to spark the three-goal win now needed to avoid the drop.

Israel Nations League form:

Israel form (all competitions):

Belgium’s Nations League form:

Belgium form (all competitions):

Team news

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Domenico Tedesco is set to make more changes on Sunday night as Romelu Lukaku, Amadou Onana, Arthur Theate, Romeo Lavia and Maxim De Cuyper did not board the flight to Budapest.

Tedesco’s options were already somewhat limited as Belgium lack a captain Kevin De Bruyne this month, besides Thomas Meunier, Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere, Your Tielemans and Malick Fofana.

With an expected more attacking approach against smaller opponents, the Red Devils could bring in Dodi Lukebakio and Johan Bakayoko to add width in the final third while RB Leipzig play in midfield Arthur Vermeer is also a candidate for promotion from the bench.

Israel are likely to select a similar starting XI to the one that defied France, packing their defense in a 5-4-1 formation.

Either Dor Turgeman, Tai Baribo or Dean David was to lead the line in front, supported by Oscar Glouch and Leeds United on loan Manor Solomon – the latter returned to national team duty in midweek after missing October’s camp due to injury.

In the absence of Red Star Belgrade goalkeeper Omri Glazer due to injury, Bayern back-up Daniel Peretz is set to start between the sticks once again and earn his fourth senior cap.

Israel possible starting line-up:
Peretz; Dasa, Nachimas, Shlomo, Goldberg, Haziza; Solomon, Abu Fani, Jaber, Gloukh; David

Belgium possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Debast, Al-Dhakil, Faes, Castagne; Mangala, Engels; Lukebakio, Trossard, Bakayoko; Open

We say: Israel 0-2 Belgium

Belgium ultimately brushed Israel aside when they last met in Hungary, firing 25 shots and having two-thirds of the ball.

Despite being disjointed and slightly subdued after recent withdrawals, the Red Devils should once again lay siege to the Israeli defense and end their Group 2 campaign with a win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, please click here.

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