Comment: Reality of Israel games will force uncomfortable questions

Heimir Hallgrimsson is preparing his set-up for a testing international window in the coming weeks.

POLITICAL FOOTBALL: Head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson speaks to the media during a Republic of Ireland men squad announcement. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Heimir Hallgrimsson did his best to delay the inevitable. The Republic of Ireland manager likes to kick off press conferences with an opening address to the assembled media, and he held onto the ball for an age when naming his latest senior squad.

He filibustered for somewhere between eight and nine minutes after taking his seat on Thursday. It was a feat all the more impressive for the fact that, good as his English may be, it is not his first language. Come to think of it, he probably leaned in on that at times, too.