Israeli fixture updates main concern as Hallgrímsson prepares squad announcement

Questions around match protocols, especially the customary pre-match handshakes between players and staff, are certain to get an airing at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown

Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Football will take a back seat this morning during an Ireland squad announcement that will be dominated by Heimir Hallgrímsson’s updates around the Israel fixtures.

Since the Uefa Nations League draw was made in February, the focus has been on the meetings against Israel on September 27 and October 4.

Because Uefa have merged two international windows, there will be four games during the gathering, beginning in Pristina next Thursday for Ireland’s first-ever meeting with Kosovo.

It will be difficult for Hallgrímsson to remain on-topic as this is his first media engagement since the Canada friendly on June 6.

A week after that 1-1 draw in Montreal, the FAI decided to move their ‘home’ game out of Ireland for fear of another disruption episode that marred the last game at Lansdowne Road against Qatar in late May.

The Stop The Game campaign group haven’t accepted the relocation to Serbia as a solution, since escalating their resistance by contacting agents of players in a bid to pressurise them into boycotting.

Hallgrímsson’s line manager, director of football John Martin, indicated earlier in the week no withdrawals on grounds of conscience had been flagged but that may not be definitive until after the first game of the quadruple header.

The Icelander made his views clear before Ireland were even drawn into the same group, wondering why Fifa and Uefa applied a different approach to Israel than suspended Russia.

This week marks the first anniversary of a United Nations the Independent International Commission of Inquiry finding that Israel guilty of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 

Additionally, the FAI membership last November urged Uefa and Fifa to ban their teams arising from alleged breaches of statutes from establishing clubs in Palestine.

The first meeting between the side, in Debrecen, Hungary, is open to fans while the rematch, a week later in Backa Topola, is behind closed doors.

Questions around match protocols, especially the customary pre-match handshakes between players and staff, are certain to get an airing too at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown.

When matters do finally revert to on-pitch, the presence or otherwise of Séamus Coleman in an expanded squad of around 28 players will be the talking point.

Ireland’s veteran defender hasn’t played since that workout against Canada.

His 17-year spell at Everton ended in May and he’s yet to resume employment with a new suitor, noting last week how the decision time was approaching for the free agent.

The defender who succeeded him as Ireland captain, Nathan Collins, won’t be included as he recovers from a calf injury.

In-form John Egan is primed to deputise within the three-man defence for the opener, while the squad could facilitate a maiden call-up for recently-declared Coventry City defender Liam Kitching.

James Abankwah, who scored for Udinese against Inter Milan this week, is ahead of the newcomer in a packed field of defensive options.

Kosovo manager Franco Fodai is dealing with different problems, as some of his players are angered by a backlash from fans. Captain Amir Rrahmani of Napoli is said to have retired but Florent Muslija is sticking around. 

There are doubts over Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova while Bristol City striker Lorent Tolaj has rebuffed an approach, fuelling rumours he’s holding out for a call-up by Switzerland.