Analysis The numbers behind the result
Stalemate reflects Kosovo's dominance in chance creation
The 0-0 draw between Israel and Kosovo was a fair reflection of the balance of play, with Kosovo's superior chance creation failing to translate into goals. Despite Israel edging the shot-on-target count (3 vs 4), Kosovo dominated the overall shot volume (18 vs 10) and quality, with their 11 shots from outside the box indicating a willingness to test Israel's goalkeeper Aviad Tzur from distance. Israel's defensive resilience was evident in their 4 blocked shots, while Kosovo's 10 blocked efforts suggest a combination of last-ditch defending and wayward finishing.
Kosovo's 55% possession and 499 accurate passes underline their control of the midfield battle, with Israel's 407 accurate passes demonstrating their ability to disrupt Kosovo's rhythm despite their lower share of the ball. Albion Rrahmani's introduction in the 69th minute added impetus to Kosovo's attack, but Israel's substitutions, including Tai Baribo and Liel Abada, helped maintain their defensive shape. The lack of yellow cards (0 vs 0) reflects a relatively disciplined encounter, with both teams focusing on tactical discipline over physical confrontation.
The key stat explaining the result is Kosovo's 18 total shots - a dominant figure that, without clinical finishing, ultimately amounted to little. Despite their attacking intent, Kosovo's inability to convert their superiority into goals left Israel with a hard-earned point.