Republic of Ireland to play second Israel match, Hallgrimsson says
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said before Thursday's game against Austria in Dublin that his side will play their second UEFA Nations League match against Israel. The announcement follows a 3-0 win over Israel in Hungary on Sunday that came after the squad voted to fulfil the fixture.
The squad has faced calls to withdraw from the fixtures because of the Israel-Gaza war, with the 'Stop The Game' campaign organised by Irish Sport for Palestine issuing an open letter this week calling for the Republic of Ireland to pull out of Sunday's behind-closed-doors match in Serbia. Those appeals intensified scrutiny on the team's decisions in the days leading up to the first match.
Hallgrimsson said he was not aware of a players' meeting to decide whether to play the second Israel game and repeated that the Football Association of Ireland had confirmed the team would honour both fixtures. "The FAI (Football Association of Ireland) has said we are playing both games. That was our intention when we came into the camp and it is still our intention," he said. "We are trying to focus on the football. It is already decided we will fulfil the games."
Doubts over the first Israel fixture emerged on Saturday after the Republic of Ireland's pre-match news conference was postponed because of a squad meeting; when it did begin more than five hours later FAI chief executive David Courell said a players' vote on whether to play had passed by a "significant majority". While the game went ahead the players did not take part in pre-match formalities, wore black armbands and bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.
On Saturday goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for both Israel games, saying he felt it "would be wrong to participate". Bazunu returned to training before the Austria match and Hallgrimsson praised him while criticising what he called "lies" reported about the goalkeeper's decision. "Gavin is a great lad. I've always had a good relationship with him and it's probably more tough for him than the other players, but they have really welcomed him," Hallgrimsson said. "There's been a lot of lies said around all of this, but we welcome him back and he's taken part, amazing. "I think it shows his character, as well, to be with us, so I want to give him praise for that. I want to give the players praise for how welcome they have been with him. "Life goes on. He is a part of this group and I think that shows how strong the bond is between these players that even a thing like this is not breaking us." Hallgrimsson confirmed Luton keeper Josh Keeley will take Bazunu's place in the squad for the second Israel game.
Hallgrimsson also praised midfielder Finn Azaz, who was an unused substitute in the 3-0 win over Israel, and noted Azaz's family links to Israel on his mother's side while commending his composure. He lauded the 26-year-old's "incredible emotional control" and said: "He's been one of the persons I admire the most in how he conducted himself in all of this." He added: "It is about being a member of a team, so you need to listen to all opinions. To do your thing, to do your work with grace and understanding of all opinions. "Talking about walking the extra mile to being a part of a national team, I don't have words to explain to you and you wouldn't understand because inside camp he has so much respect within this group of players."
Asked about the possibility of protests during Thursday's match with Austria, Hallgrimsson said he would concentrate on the game itself and leave security matters to others. "I must focus on football. I will let others think about security and those things. "We are playing Austria, the highest-ranked team in the group. I'm not going to allow outside noise to affect me focusing on football."
