Ireland Coach Clarifies Stance on Playing Israel Amidst UEFA Nations League

Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrímsson has clarified that the Republic of Ireland will indeed play their scheduled UEFA Nations League matches against Israel, despite previous ambiguity. Hallgrímsson stated, "It might have been unclear, we will play both games against Israel. That was the intention and that is what we will do." He acknowledged the situation was "tough," particularly for the players, but emphasized the team's focus on their upcoming match against Austria before turning their attention to Israel.

Hallgrímsson also praised Israeli player Manor Solomon, calling him "one of the people I admire most in the world right now" for his emotional control and ability to listen to all opinions within the team. He highlighted the importance of understanding diverse viewpoints and maintaining team cohesion, stating, "You have to hear all the opinions. Do your job with a complete understanding of all the opinions."

The Republic of Ireland team is currently preparing for their match against Austria. Following that game, they will face Kosovo and then Israel in the Nations League campaign. In their previous encounter, Ireland suffered a 3-0 defeat against Israel.