Ireland manager says his Israel remarks distracted from Kosovo match

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson admitted that his remarks condemning the Israel Football Association have eclipsed the team's upcoming Nations League clash with Kosovo in Pristina. He described the timing as difficult and said shifting the spotlight away from the match was not a clever decision. The coach emphasized the need for both him and the players to stay focused on the game despite external criticism, including comments from Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in New York.

Dara O’Shea, who will captain the side in place of the sidelined Nathan Collins, noted that the squad will address any form of protest after the match is completed. Hallgrímsson thanked supporters for their backing while acknowledging the challenging circumstances surrounding the fixture.