Israel's World Cup Dreams End in Riga Against Latvia

Israel’s qualifying campaign did not just end in Riga. It unraveled.

A night that began with defiance and double-digit promise finished in another collapse, another 15-point defeat, and the final confirmation: Israel will not be at the upcoming World Cup. Latvia, far from a terrifying powerhouse, walked away with an 85-70 win that said more about the visitors’ fragility than the hosts’ strength.

For Ariel Beit-Halahmy and his players, this was supposed to be the response to the humiliation against Poland. For one half, it looked like it might be.

From control to chaos

Israel came out sharp and alert. The starting five of Yair Kravits, Yam Madar, Netanel Artzi, Lior Carreira, and Roman Sorkin set the tone early. Carreira buried a three to open the scoring, Madar flew out in transition for 5-2, and the visitors looked switched on.

Latvia answered through Kristers Zoriks, who flipped the score to 11-7, but Israel refused to drift. Artzi knocked down a three, Sorkin got on the board inside, and Kravits kept the tempo high to drag it back to 15-15. Off the bench, Eitan Borg injected energy, stringing together a couple of positive plays that nudged Israel back in front. The first quarter ended 22-21 to the blue-and-white, and the body language on the Israeli bench finally hinted at belief.

That belief grew in the second quarter. The second unit stayed on, and immediately delivered. Threes from Tomer Palatin and Borg stretched the gap to 28-24. Latvia tried to cling on, but Madar sliced through the defense for a layup, Carreira floated in another basket, and suddenly the lead had air in it.

Under the rims, Sorkin and Itay Segev raised the physicality, attacking the glass and finishing plays. The advantage swelled to double digits. At one point, Israel led by 11 and looked in complete control, moving the ball, contesting shots, dictating the rhythm.

Then the switch flipped.

Israel stalled. Offense froze, shots rimmed out, and the composure that had built the lead vanished. Zoriks sensed the opening and dragged Latvia back, possession by possession. What had been a promising cushion was wiped out in a blur. By halftime, the scoreboard read 41-41. Madar led Israel with 7 points, Borg had 6, but the mood had changed. Latvia had survived, and Israel had let them.

Strautins takes over, Israel fall apart

The third quarter turned the game, and perhaps this campaign, into an indictment.

Artzi tried to seize it back, drilling a three to start the half and adding a tough basket for 46-41. Again, Israel held the upper hand. Again, they could not hold it.

Latvia answered quickly, leveling the score, and from there the contest tilted decisively. On one end, Madar and Sorkin tried to keep Israel in touch with drives and finishes. On the other, Arturs Strautins exploded.

Strautins produced the kind of night players remember for years: 29 points, a career-best, and every one of them felt like a punch to Israel’s confidence. He scored from deep, attacked the rim, punished every defensive lapse. Each time Israel threatened to steady themselves, Strautins ripped away the momentum.

The misses started to pile up for Israel. Open looks went begging. Latvia smelled blood. Rihards Lomazs found his rhythm, joining Strautins in stretching the defense. The gap grew to 58-52. Artzi answered once more, keeping it at six and moving into double figures, but Israel were now clinging on rather than competing on their terms.

Strautins then closed a dominant quarter with another three, pushing the hosts out to 67-58. Israel trudged to the bench, searching for answers that simply were not there.

Garbage time and hard questions

The fourth quarter did not bring a twist. It brought confirmation.

Latvia came out intent on finishing the job. Israel came out empty.

The lead ballooned to 14 as Beit-Halahmy’s players lost their grip completely. Sorkin missed an uncontested dunk, a snapshot of the team’s unraveling. Madar, who had fought all night to drag his side forward, could no longer manufacture points. Latvia controlled the boards, securing rebound after rebound and turning them into second-chance scores. The scoreboard drifted to 78-62, and the competitive edge disappeared.

The final minutes were extended garbage time. Latvia moved the ball, the crowd enjoyed the show, and Israel watched their World Cup hopes drain away. The buzzer finally put them out of their misery at 85-70.

Madar finished with 15 points, Artzi with 11. Sorkin and Segev added 9 each, Borg had 8, Carreira 7. On paper, a spread of contributions. On the floor, it never felt like enough. Khadeen Carrington’s night summed up the malaise: 2 points on 1-of-8 shooting, never finding a foothold in the game.

Latvia rode their leaders with ruthless clarity. Strautins’ 29 points headlined the night, Lomazs chipped in 18, and Zoriks added 16, having been the one to keep them alive when Israel threatened to run away early.

Campaign in ruins

Strip away the numbers and what remains is a troubling pattern. A weak qualifying campaign. A heavy, bruising loss to Poland. Now a collapse against a Latvian side that, while disciplined and opportunistic, was far from unbeatable.

Israel built leads, then let them go. They started with intent, then drifted. When pressure rose, structure and belief fell away.

The result is brutal and simple: no ticket to the World Cup, and a national team left facing uncomfortable questions about its direction, its mentality, and how many more nights like this it can afford.