Tackle football: Israel overcomes Spain in 1st competitive game

Israel squad is welcomed at the stadium by pro-Palestinian graffiti, but it maintained its composure and claimed a dramatic win.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
PLAYING IN Madrid in its first-ever official game, the Israel national tackle football team (in blue and white) earned a 28-20 victory over Spain, August 30, 2015 (photo credit: E.GERSHTEIN)
PLAYING IN Madrid in its first-ever official game, the Israel national tackle football team (in blue and white) earned a 28-20 victory over Spain, August 30, 2015
(photo credit: E.GERSHTEIN)
The Israeli national tackle football team beat Spain 28-20 in Madrid in its first-ever competitive game on Sunday, advancing to Group B of the European Federation of American Football.
The Israel squad was welcomed at the stadium by pro-Palestinian graffiti, but it maintained its composure and claimed a dramatic win.
Three-time IFL MVP Dani Eastman from the Judean Rebels registered three touchdowns, and it was his score with four minutes remaining that broke a 20-20 tie and gave the blue-and-white a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Israel will play a series of home and away games in Group B next year, with the group leader advancing to Europe’s Group A, which includes the six strongest teams in the continent.
In June, Israeli football sponsor and the NFL’s New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft viewed an Israel team practice and addressed the players.
“Do your jobs and the success will come,” noted Kraft, whose Patriots in January won their fourth Super Bowl in his tenure. “Some day I hope to welcome the first Israeli player in the NFL.”
Sponsors of the Israeli team also include Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf, and New York hedge-fund businessman Henry Swieca.