Irish manager insists fixture against Israel will not be friendly
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson insisted his side’s reverse fixture against Israel “will not be friendly” following Israeli captain Manor Solomon’s comments, reports BritPanorama.
The two teams faced each other last week in Hungary, where Ireland dominated the contest, winning 3-0.
Prior to the match, Irish players bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem and opted not to shake hands with the Israeli squad. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu boycotted the fixture, and Ireland’s players wore black armbands “in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict.”
Following the contest, Solomon commented on the Irish squad, stating, “We have a country 10 times better than theirs. Obviously they hate us. We don’t like them.” In response, Hallgrimsson was quoted saying, “I guess it’s not going to be a friendly.”
The Irish manager acknowledged the controversy surrounding the fixture, noting that the squad is feeling the strain due to “everything going on.” He added, “It is going to be tricky and challenging for the players to be ready [for Israel], but we will do everything and the medical team will work day and night to get them fit and fresh for that game.”
When discussing the significance of the match, Hallgrimsson remarked, “[It’s] just another football match, but [there] is more at stake for all of us.” He stated that a win would see Ireland finishing on seven points from four games but expressed uncertainty regarding whether it would qualify as a success.
Reflecting on the team’s challenges, he noted, “Surviving this camp, coming out of it together as one, would be a massive win for me.” Hallgrimsson emphasized the importance of team unity and expressed pride in the players’ togetherness in facing adversity.
The two sides are set to meet tomorrow in Serbia at the TSC Arena at 7.45 pm.
