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Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson spoke in Bačka Topola ahead of his side's designated home match against Israel, which was relocated to Serbia for security reasons. He discussed maintaining player focus amid calls for a boycott, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu's withdrawal, James Abankwah's suspension, Dara O'Shea's absence, and preparations for Ireland's third consecutive away match in the international window.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson will speak to the media ahead of their match against Israel in Bačka Topola in Serbia at about 11.15pm Irish time.
This is designated as a “home” game for Ireland, but has been moved here for security reasons. Last Saturday, it was a wild day for Irish football after goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad, not feeling comfortable to play. He won’t take part for this match either, the rest of the team is here apart from James Abankwah, who is suspended after a yellow card against Austria.
“No,” replied Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson earlier this week when asked if his players are planning another vote to boycott the upcoming Israel fixture. “But we thought that as well before the first game,” he said. Follow updates from the press conference here. From Gavin Cooney: We are at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, awaiting Heimir Hallgrimsson.
He won’t have far to travel to get here: the Irish team hotel is part of the stadium, so he will just have to pop downstairs Hallgrímsson says it is his job to keep players focused on football. He says there has been a lot of emotion from the people of Ireland, the challenge is focusing on the football side.
He says they have done a lot of work in that area, he says they do a little prayer and huddle before they go onto the pitch, he says Conor Coventry has taken a lead and he has a nickname “Brother Coventry”. He says they try to cool players down.
“It’s a quiet location. The hotel is at the stadium so it is absolutely a perfect location for us.
“It is more travelling for us than most other teams, because we are playing three games away from home. “It is new for national coaches to rotate players in this window. ” Hallgrímsson says Dara O’Shea has stayed in London as his wife is due to have a baby.
“Hopefully it will be a good centre back for Ireland in 16 years. ” On the alleged racist abuse of Adam Idah: “I just hope we can focus on football, and football will be the winner after this. I have not gone into details. ” FAI press officer says: “That investigation is ongoing”.
Hallgrímsson says whatever the players have done, they have done it with respect, all obstacles they face will be lesser than they are in the future after this week. He says this will be the moment we grew. A question from the Israeli journalist about the plane incident earlier this week, the FAI communications officer says only football questions. Another journalist asks will Finn Azaz play this game.
“I will not give the starting lineup to journalists before the game,” says Hallgrímsson. Then a chaotic moment in the press conference as the Israeli journalist makes an allegation about the Irish, which the press officer says “that is not true”. From Gavin Cooney: After that accusation from the Israeli media, it led to the premature ending of the press conference in Serbia, with the Irish media taken elsewhere in the stadium to speak with Hallgrímsson.
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