Ireland coach Hallgrimsson hopes camp ordeal strengthens squad before second Israel game
Ahead of Sunday's Nations League match against Israel in Backa Topola, Serbia, Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said surviving a fractious international window would make his squad stronger. The FAI is still investigating racism allegations from the first game.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said on Saturday 3 October that his side will come out of the international window stronger after two fractious Nations League games against Israel, which fans and politicians had called on Ireland to boycott. CNAN “Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has said his side will come out of the international window stronger after two fractious games against Israel that fans and politicians had called on his side to boycott.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has said his side will come out of the international window stronger after two fractious games against Israel” Read at Arab News ↗ Mixed · 2The fixtures have drawn attention since the teams were drawn together in February, with Ireland described as one of Europe's most outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza, and numerous protests in Ireland have urged the team not to play. CNAN “with Ireland one of Europe's most outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza. There have been numerous protests in Ireland asking for the team not to fulfil the fixtures with Israel.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “There have been numerous protests in Ireland asking for the team not to fulfil the fixtures with Israel.” Read at Arab News ↗ Mixed · 2Because of the opposition, the Football Association of Ireland chose to hold the second game behind closed doors in Backa Topola, a Serbian town of around 12,000 people, rather than in Dublin. CNAN “the Football Association of Ireland chose to hold the game behind closed doors in Backa Topola, a small Serbian town of around 12,000 people, rather than in Dublin.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “the Football Association of Ireland chose to hold the game behind closed doors in Backa Topola, a small Serbian town of around 12,000 people, rather than in Dublin.” Read at Arab News ↗
Centre · 1Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who declined to be in the squad for the first game against Israel, will again be missing, and captain Dara O'Shea will also miss out because of the birth of his child. CNAN “Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who declined to be in the squad for the first game against Israel, will again be missing when the two sides meet in Serbia on Sunday, and captain Dara O’Shea will also miss out due to the birth of his child.” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2Hallgrimsson told a press conference that the focus must stay on Sunday's game, acknowledging that "a lot of emotions from the people in Ireland" affect the players and that the noisy environment is a challenge. CNAN ““There's been a lot of emotions from the people in Ireland about this, and obviously that affects the players as well.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “but it’s always going to be a challenge when the environment is as noisy as it is.”” Read at Arab News ↗ Mixed · 2He said that "surviving this camp, coming out of it together as one, would be a massive win for me", adding that the challenges and criticism the group has faced would strengthen it. CNAN ““Surviving this camp, coming out of it together as one, would be a massive win for me, that is coming from my heart,” he said.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “The 59-year-old said the difficulties the team had faced would strengthen them.” Read at Arab News ↗
Mixed · 2Ireland won the first game 3-0 in Hungary. The FAI is still investigating allegations that Irish players Adam Idah and James Abankwah were racially abused in that match; Hallgrimsson said the matter goes through the FAI's departments and then to UEFA, and that it was reported from both teams. CNAN “The FAI is continuing to investigate allegations that Irish players Adam Idah and James Abankwah were racially abused in Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Israelis in Hungary.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC ““It was something that was reported from both teams. I just hope that we can focus on football and that football will be the winner after this.”” Read at Arab News ↗ Mixed · 2The press conference ended abruptly when an Israeli journalist asked about an allegation that an Irish player had called an Israeli player "a monkey"; Irish press officer Kieran Crowley strongly denied it and closed the session. CNAN “with Irish press officer Kieran Crowley strongly denying the allegation before quickly bringing it to a close.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “The news conference ended abruptly when an Israeli journalist asked about an allegation that an Irish player had called an Israeli player “a monkey” during Sunday’s game” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 1Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon refused to be drawn into off-field matters, saying the points matter and his only focus is a good result. Arab NewsRC “Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon refused to be drawn into off-field matters.” Read at Arab News ↗
Mixed · 2Ireland drew 2-2 with Austria in Dublin on Thursday, a match briefly disrupted by two protests; a goal by Troy Parrott and four points from their last two games have eased pressure on the team. In Group B3, Austria lead on seven points, Kosovo are second on four ahead of Ireland on goal difference, and Israel are bottom with one point. CNAN “Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Austria in Dublin was briefly disrupted by two protests, but a superb goal from Troy Parrott against the Austrians and four points from their last two games have eased the pressure on the Irish team.” Read at CNA ↗ Arab NewsRC “Austria top Group B3 on seven points, with Kosovo second on four ahead of the Irish on goal difference, and Israel bottom with one point.” Read at Arab News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- CNA runs the story as a sports press-conference report, leading on the coach's hope that the squad emerges stronger from a politically charged window.
- Emphasis
- Hallgrimsson's quotes on focus and resilience, the closed-doors venue, and the FAI racism inquiry.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no Irish or Israeli government perspective on the boycott calls beyond noting protests.
- Charged language
- “fractious”
- For example
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“Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has said his side will come out of the international window stronger after two fractious games against Israel” — CNA
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Arab News carries the same Reuters report with the same sports-focused lead and a 'TWO PROTESTS' subheading; the text is the agency's, so it does not by itself show the outlet's own framing.
- Emphasis
- Same as the agency copy: Hallgrimsson's remarks, the protests, the racism inquiry and the group table.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No additional commentary beyond the agency report.
- Charged language
- “fractious”
- For example
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“TWO PROTESTS Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Austria in Dublin was briefly disrupted by two protests” — Arab News
What every side reports
- Hallgrimsson said surviving the camp together would be a big win and would make the squad stronger.
- The second game against Israel is in Backa Topola, Serbia, on Sunday, behind closed doors.
- Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Hungary in the first game and drew 2-2 with Austria on Thursday.
- The FAI is investigating allegations that Adam Idah and James Abankwah were racially abused in the first game.
- An allegation that an Irish player called an Israeli player 'a monkey' was strongly denied by Ireland's press officer.
Heimir Hallgrimsson person
Wants the squad to focus on football, says the emotion in Ireland affects players, and sees surviving the camp together as a big win; he defers the racism allegations to the FAI and UEFA process.
““Surviving this camp, coming out of it together as one, would be a massive win for me, that is coming from my heart,” he said.” — CNA
““It just goes to a process both in our departments and then to UEFA to look at,” Hallgrimsson said.” — CNA
Israel national football team organisation
Israel's coach Ran Ben-Shimon avoided off-field issues, saying points matter to get back into the group and his only focus is the result.
““This game is very important to us, (the) point(s) matter to come back to the group, and I’m focusing on how can I lead my team to have a good result tomorrow.” — Arab News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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CNAN ·
Ireland coach Hallgrimsson hopes squad bonds will be stronger after tough period
Neutral Straight sports report on the coach's press conference, with political context about boycott calls.
Right1 article
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Arab NewsRC · · via Reuters
Ireland coach Hallgrimsson hopes squad bonds will be stronger after tough period
Neutral Reuters copy carried by Arab News; neutral sports report on the press conference.
- 3 Oct 12:35 First CNAN Hallgrimsson hopes Irish bonds will be stronger after tough period
- 3 Oct 12:35 First CNAN Ireland coach Hallgrimsson hopes squad bonds will be stronger after tough period
- 3 Oct 18:04 +5h 29m Arab NewsRC Ireland coach Hallgrimsson hopes squad bonds will be stronger after tough period via Reuters
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.