Second Israel game won't be a friendly - Hallgrimsson

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has announced that Sunday's second game against Israel will not be a friendly, despite calls for a boycott due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. Following Israel captain Manor Solomon's comments that "we have a country 10 times better than theirs," Hallgrimsson stated that the match will indeed be challenging for his players.

He admitted that the controversy surrounding the fixture has taken its toll on the squad, leading to fatigue during Thursday's 2-2 draw with Austria. Despite the threats of disruption from the "Stop The Game" campaign, Hallgrimsson revealed that the Irish fans' support helped buoy the team's morale. He expressed uncertainty about the crowd's impact on the game, stating that the players are ready for the challenge ahead.