Dara O'Shea says the Republic of Ireland squad will wait until after Thursday's Kosovo game before discussing how they approach Sunday's contentious fixture against Israel. The Republic of Ireland face Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday ( ) before travelling to Debrecen in Hungary for the first of two Israel games in this international window. There have been increasing calls in Ireland for a boycott of the matches, with a protest held at the Republic of Ireland team hotel in Dublin on Monday.
This followed an open letter by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group, signed by over 160 Irish sportspeople, urging the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to withdraw from the fixtures because of the situation in Gaza. O'Shea said it is important for the squad to "speak openly" and "respect each other's views" when they come together to discuss the Israel game on Friday. "We've got to respect each other's opinions and each other's views and really sit down and take the time, because it deserves the time to talk about," he said.
"It's the main thing and it's something that can't be brushed over. Whatever decision that we go through as players is taken as one and everybody's view is respected as well. O'Shea, who will captain the Republic of Ireland in the absence of the injured Nathan Collins, added the players have been aware of the "noise" surrounding this window but have tried to avoid it as much as possible.
"The good thing we have as players is when we step into the squad you're in the international bubble straight away," added the Ipswich defender. "So we've known the noise around the game and there has been, but I think we've all tried to stay off social media as much as possible and stay together." Israel FA comments on Hallgrimsson 'unacceptable' - Martin Neutral venues and no 'away' fans - how Israel v Republic of Ireland became so contentious Uefa rejected request to keep Republic of Ireland and Israel separate - FAI O'Shea admitted it was a "difficult" and "unusual" situation for the players, who will also face Israel in the Republic of Ireland's 'home' game in the Serbian town of Backa Topola on 4 October. "We've got a massive game tomorrow that we've been preparing for," he said.
"We've come in on Sunday and that's been our focus straight away was preparing for that game and giving it the amount of effort that it needs. "Kosovo are a great side and we've been preparing for that." In February 2024, the Ireland women's basketball team refused to shake hands with Israel and lined up for their anthem beside the team's bench rather than the centre of the court. Asked if a decision had been made about pre-match formalities, O'Shea said: "We spoke already at the start of the week that we're going to come together on Friday and discuss this as a group.
"Tomorrow we've got a game to focus on, first of all. I don't think we'll be doing our job properly if we didn't put our full focus into that game. Once the game's over and Friday comes, we're all going to come together as one and discuss it openly." When asked if a boycott of Sunday's Israel game will be discussed among the squad on Friday, O'Shea said: "For us, the decision was made by the FAI, Uefa and the Government.
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