Hallgrimsson: Republic's second Israel match in Backa Topola 'not going to be a friendly'
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said on Sunday his side's second Nations League match against Israel, to be played behind closed doors in the Serbian town of Backa Topola, will not be straightforward after remarks from Israel's camp following last week's game in Debrecen, Hungary.
"I guess so it's not going to be a friendly," said Hallgrimsson.
The remarks come after the Republic of Ireland declined to take part in pre-match formalities and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem in Debrecen, where Ireland won 3-0. Israel captain Manor Solomon responded to that match by saying "we have a country 10 times better than theirs" and adding, "Obviously they hate us. We don't like them." The fixtures have drawn calls for a boycott amid the Israel-Gaza war from the 'Stop The Game' campaign organised by Irish Sport for Palestine.
On Thursday the Republic drew 2-2 with Austria in Dublin, a match in which Troy Parrott scored twice in the first half before Austria recovered. Hallgrimsson said fatigue because of "everything going on" was a factor as Austria fought back and warned it "is going to be tricky and challenging for the players to be ready [for Israel], but we will do everything and the medical team will work day and night to get them fit and fresh for that game," he added. "[It's] just another football match, but [there] is more at stake for all of us."
The international window has been marked by on- and off-field disruption: protesters from the 'Stop The Game' campaign demonstrated outside the Aviva Stadium ahead of the Austria fixture, and the first half was briefly interrupted by a tennis-ball protest and a pitch invader. Hallgrimsson said he had been unsure what to expect from the atmosphere but praised the support his squad received, saying: "Yeah, I'm not going to lie. I didn't know what to expect." He added: "Obviously, the 'Stop the Game' protest is loud. I don't know how many but it's been loud, but it was just good to see the support from the fans and I just want to repeat the appreciation for people showing up and showing support tonight, it helps us a lot. It gives us even more pride to play for the country."
Before last week's game in Debrecen, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for both Israel matches, saying he felt "it would be wrong to participate". On the eve of that fixture, the Republic's players voted to play the games, a ballot that Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said passed by a "significant majority".
The second Israel fixture is the Republic's designated 'home' match but was relocated to the TSC Arena in Backa Topola; Hallgrimsson said he knew "absolutely nothing" about the town and described the situation around the window as odd: "Everything about this [is strange]. First of all, the four-game window has been strange and challenging and testing. It will be different playing in front of 45,000 or 50,000 supporters and then playing in an empty stadium. But that's just another angle of the story and we need to be ready for that one."
The Republic will play Israel on Sunday in the behind-closed-doors tie at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, with Hallgrimsson's squad preparing under the medical team's oversight ahead of that 'home' Nations League fixture.