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Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson speaking to the media this afternoon. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
From The 42squad announcement
Ireland boss spoke to each player about facing Israel in upcoming Nations League fixtures
Heimir Hallgrímsson said “none of us feel comfortable playing these games”, but want to represent Ireland “with the best performances as we can”.
LAST UPDATE | 3 hrs ago
HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON SAYS there are “different opinions, different strength of opinions” among Republic of Ireland players about playing Israel in the upcoming Nations League campaign.
The Ireland boss revealed he spoke to all 26 players named in his squad individually about their feelings and confirmed that while no one is comfortable with the fixtures going ahead they have decided to fulfil them as they “want to represent Ireland with the best games and performances as we can.”
With the ongoing devastation in Gaza and displacement of people in Palestine, a United Nations commission stated in June of this year that Israel was committing genocide by targeting children.
Earlier this week, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk also stated that Israeli forces were showing “no respect for the dead” as areas continue to be razed by Israeli bulldozers.
As expected when Hallgrímsson announced his squad for the four-game international window, starting away to Kosovo next week before facing Israel on 27 September and 6 October, the prospect of those games and discussions about a boycott dominated proceedings.
“Yeah, I’ve spoken to all of them individually on that because you shouldn’t be doing this on a group talk (chat) and obviously we have different opinions, different strength of opinions,” Hallgrímsson said.
“And without going into individuals, none of us feel comfortable playing these games, but once we have decided to play them, we all stick together and play as one. We want to represent Ireland with the best games and performances as we can.
“That’s the agreement between all of us. We don’t all share the same opinion and that’s just human nature.”
As part of a nine-minute presentation before taking questions, the Ireland boss stressed the importance of the Nations League campaign.
“Just a few facts: winning the group we go into League A. Second place in this group, we go into a play-off for League A. First and second spot will guarantee us Pot 2 for the Euros. If we went up third or fourth, we go to Pot 3 for the Euros, so you are aware of how important it is to do well in this competition, our seeding depends on the Nations League. And that draw will be in November.
“Obviously going into League A would mean better opponents and financially better for the FAI etc. Plus there is an escape route to the Euros through the Nations League. Lots of reasons why we want to do really well in these Nations League matches.
“We are a good run, we are on a positive spiral, we would like to keep that going, we have not lost in the last seven matches, long may that continue, we are conceding less goals through all the metrics that look at our performances.”
Hallgrímsson confirmed that captain Nathan Collins will be out of action for five weeks while Seamus Coleman agreed not to be called up as
“My intention, in whatever shape or form that will be, he will be with us in the future, hopefully as a player. His intention is to play, he is keeping fit but he hasn’t been training with a club or with a team.
“We felt, together, it was more his decision that it was appropriate he would sit out this one. Mostly because he felt it was unfair to other players that he would be picked at this moment.”
Liam Kitching has also earned his first call-up to the squad. The Coventry City defender, currently on loan with Sheffield United, will help to fill part of the void left by the Collins.
Josh Cullen and Evan Ferguson missed out through injury but may return for the next international window in November.
Joel Bagan has also returned to the senior fold after being forced out of the summer friendly with Granada through injury.
In attack, Cardiff City’s Jack Moylan has been named by Heimir Hallgrímsson along with Watford’s Rocco Vatta.
Hallgrímsson says Newcastle United midfielder Rory Finneran is progressing well on loan at Notts County and the 18-year-old will be important for the future.
Ireland begin their Nations League campaign away to Kosovo on 24 September before playing Israel in Hungary three days later, a home fixture with Austria on 1 October before a behind-closed-doors encounter with Israel in Serbia.
The first game against Israel had been due to be played at a neutral venue, while the return game was initially scheduled to take place in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
However, a massive campaign to ‘Stop the Game’ emerged which saw activists, politicians and former Ireland players calling for it not to go ahead due to Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza.
In June, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed that the game had been moved overseas. It was later confirmed that it would be held behind closed doors in Serbia.
The relocation led to further protests from football figures, supporters and politicians who called for both fixtures to be boycotted.
The FAI said that if Ireland had boycotted the game against Israel, it would have forfeited six points and could have led to relegation of the team to League C of the Nations League. It also would have had a “direct impact” on Ireland’s Uefa and Fifa rankings, which would affect future qualification to competitions.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford), Max O’Leary (West Bromwich Albion), Gavin Bazunu (Bolton Wanderers)
Defenders: James Abankwah (Udinese), Joel Bagan (Cardiff City), Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers), John Egan (Hull City), Liam Kitching (Sheffield United), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Jake O’Brien (Everton), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Liam Scales (Celtic)
Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Southampton), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Hibernian), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Harvey Vale (Queens Park Rangers), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City)
Forwards: Owen Elding (Hibernian), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Jack Moylan (Cardiff City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Lincoln City), Troy Parrott (Real Betis), Rocco Vata (Watford), Tom Cannon (Sheffield United)
Written by David Sneyd and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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