Hallgrimsson: 'This bond of brothers will be stronger'

The end of what has been at times a trying week for Irish football draws near. Ireland play their 'home' game against Israel in Serbia on Sunday evening, thus concluding this block of four games in the Nations League.

As things stand, Heimir Hallgrimsson's side have four points from three games. Asked whether a return of seven from their last three games would be a satisfactory return, the Irish boss took a broader view, when speaking at a press conference ahead of the game. A gathering that ended rather abruptly after a disagreement between an Israeli journalist and the FAI press officer.

"Surviving this camp, coming out of it together as one would be a massive win for me," said Hallgrimsson.

That is coming from my heart. Everything this team has gone through, the criticism, surviving as a group after this game would be a big win for me and the group and the FAI. A big, big win, if we get through this undamaged.

"From the coach, obviously by having another three points would be more than I could have asked for before the camp, knowing what was to come. The most pleasing thing has been the togetherness and what they have done for each other. They have done it with respect for each other. This bond of brothers will be stronger than others. All the obstacles we face in the future will be less."

As a way of enhancing that togetherness in the group, Hallgrimsson said the squad and support team have taken to praying before games in this window.

"One change is that we do a little prayer with the players and the staff just to cool our heads before we go on," he remarked.

We call Conor Coventry 'Brother Coventry' now in the squad. It’s good when you go into a high intensity game. It's good to start the game with cool heads, instead of shouting and screaming at each other. We try to cool the players down."

The manager did not want be drawn on the fallout from the game in Debrecen, where Adam Idah was allegedly subjected to racist abuse from the sparsely populated stands and comments from Israel's captain on the day Manor Solomon that stoked a sense of animosity from his team towards the Irish side.

"I will not go into depth at what is said. I will not get involved in that one. I want to keep the players focused on football. We did well in that area in the first game, Israel has a chance for revenge on the pitch so we need to be switched on football-wise. We have to control our focus level and not lose it. There has been a lot of emotions from the Irish people about this and that affects the players too. It will always be challenging when the environment is noisy as it is.

"It goes through a process in our departments and then Uefa to look at. I think something was reported from both teams, but I just hope football will be the winner after this."

In some team news ahead of Sunday's game, Hallgrimsson confirmed that Dara O'Shea has left the squad, with his wife due to give birth this weekend.

"The only player missing is Dara O’Shea, he stayed behind in London. His wife is due to have a baby. He said ‘I will have the baby and come back’ but there are priorities in life and this one is the highest, the family.

"A new life is coming and hopefully they will be a good centre back for Ireland in 16 years for the men’s or women’s team!

"There are no injuries. James Abankwah is suspended but he wanted to travel with the squad and support. Jimmy [Dunne] is fit."