Finn Azaz Benched by Ireland Amidst Tactical and Personal Doubts

Despite being considered one of Ireland's top players on paper, Finn Azaz did not play in the team's 3-0 victory over Israel in the UEFA Nations League. Ireland's manager, Heimir Hallgrímsson, stated that Azaz was not included because he plays a different position than the rest of the squad, attributing the decision solely to himself. However, Irish media reports suggest that player fatigue might have been a factor, noting Azaz ran 11 kilometers in Ireland's previous match against Kosovo. With upcoming games against Austria and Israel, and already leading 3-0 by the 25th minute against Israel, the team reportedly felt no need to deploy an attacking player like Azaz. Other players, including Chiedozie Ogbene and veteran defender John Egan, also did not play, while Tom Cannon and Rocco Vata made brief appearances off the bench.

This is not the first time Azaz has been sidelined. Last October, he was unused in a match against Portugal before playing the full 90 minutes against Armenia. In total, he has scored only one goal in 15 senior international appearances. Irish journalist Daniel McDonnell claimed Hallgrímsson only cited tactical reasons after pressure from Israeli media. Prior to the match, Azaz reportedly told his teammates that his maternal grandmother was an IDF officer and presented the Israeli perspective on the conflict, a move described in the Irish press as "not an easy task when facing what can be assumed as ingrained opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon." Following this, it was reported that Azaz is considering retiring from the national team after the current international break.