No other team should go through this - Hallgrimsson

What the report says

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said he was relieved to have completed what he described as a very difficult international window after his team finished with a 1-1 draw against Israel in Serbia. The match in Backa Topola concluded a four-game period in which Ireland played only one fixture at home and travelled roughly 5,000 miles across multiple venues.

According to BBC Sport Football, the fixtures involving Israel were overshadowed by political and security-related tensions linked to the Israel-Gaza war. A campaign urging a boycott of the games drew pressure before Ireland’s win over Hungary, while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for the Israel matches because he felt it would be wrong to take part. The team also faced a disrupted buildup when Hallgrimsson’s pre-match news conference was cut short after an Israeli reporter accused some Irish players of making racist remarks, allegations denied by the Football Association of Ireland.

Hallgrimsson said the strain had affected the squad and praised the players for coping with the circumstances. He also explained why midfielder Finn Azaz did not feature against Israel, saying the player was not mentally ready to play after a demanding week and a slight knock. The manager suggested Azaz’s future with Ireland remains open and pointed to his involvement as evidence of his commitment.

The draw left Ireland with five points from 12 in the window, and Hallgrimsson said he hoped no other national team would have to go through a similar experience.