Israel 0–0 Kosovo | UEFA Nations League | 1 October 2026

Result Summary

A cagey but competitive Nations League fixture ended in a goalless draw as Israel and Kosovo cancelled each other out at Shlomo's venue. Despite Kosovo enjoying the lion's share of possession and generating significantly more attacking threat across the 90 minutes, neither side could find a way past the opposing goalkeeper, leaving both teams to share the spoils.

Match Analysis

Kosovo arrived the more aggressive side and the statistics reflect that dominance clearly. Franco Foda's team registered 18 total shots to Israel's 10, and a striking 125 attacks compared to Israel's 80. Their 69 dangerous attacks against Israel's 32 underlines just how decisively Kosovo controlled the tempo and direction of the contest for long stretches.

That said, the scoreline tells a different story when it comes to clinical edge. Despite that pressure, Kosovo managed only 3 shots on target — exactly the same number as Israel — highlighting a collective inability to convert territorial dominance into genuine goal-scoring moments. Israel, playing with 45% possession against Kosovo's 55%, adopted a more measured, pragmatic approach, relying on compact defensive shape and quick transitions.

The substitution boards were busy in the second half. Kosovo made three changes simultaneously in the 59th minute, bringing on Leon Avdullahu, Dion Gallapeni, and Veldin Hodža to try to inject fresh impetus. Israel head coach Ran Ben Shimon responded with a flurry of changes between the 69th and 78th minutes, introducing Ilay Feingold, Dor Turgeman, Oscar Gloukh, Eli Dasa, and Gavriel Gilad Kanichowsky in search of a breakthrough. Kosovo also introduced Milot Rashica and Edon Zhegrova late on, but neither side could manufacture the decisive quality needed. Liel Abada and Muharrem Jashari were among the notable names withdrawn during this busy phase of changes.

Israel's 86% successful pass completion was respectable given the defensive burden they carried, while Kosovo's 88% reflected their more comfortable ball circulation. The corner count — 5 for Kosovo to Israel's 4 — mirrored the broader territorial balance without suggesting either side truly threatened to unlock the match from set-piece situations.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a 1–1 draw, with the draw carrying a 27% probability — making it the least likely of the three outcomes in our model. The actual 0–0 result confirmed the draw element of the prediction, and we record this as a correct outcome call, even if the goalless nature of the game differed from the 1–1 scoreline anticipated. With a confidence rating of just 44/100, the model rightly acknowledged the competitive balance between these two sides and the uncertainty inherent in the fixture. Kosovo's statistical superiority was anticipated to some degree, but the absence of goals was ultimately not predicted.

Key Takeaways

• Kosovo dominated territorially but were wasteful when it mattered, finishing with only 3 shots on target from 18 attempts.
• Israel's defensive resilience was the defining factor — limiting Kosovo despite conceding both possession and attack counts significantly.
• Heavy rotation in the second half from both coaches suggests fatigue management and tactical adjustment were priorities, yet neither bench made the decisive impact.
• The draw is a result that neither side will be fully satisfied with, though Israel can take greater encouragement from keeping a clean sheet against a more possession-hungry opponent.