Ireland overcome Israel 3-0 after turbulent Nations League build-up

Ireland scored three times before half-time to beat Israel 3-0 in the Nations League on Sunday, bringing an end to a deeply unsettled weekend for the team.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the squad amid a dispute over whether Ireland should play the fixture, while protests urging a boycott were held in response to Israel’s war in Gaza. Ireland has been among Europe’s most vocal critics of the conflict.

The match went ahead after a majority of Ireland’s players voted to fulfil it. Shlomi Barzel, communications chief of the Israeli Football Association, said on Saturday that “football has won” following the decision.

Bazunu’s withdrawal forced Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson to name defender Jimmy Dunne as an emergency third goalkeeper. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was also criticised by supporters and political figures, who accused it of failing to give the players enough guidance.

Israel’s home matches are being staged in Debrecen, Hungary’s second-largest city, where only a few hundred Israeli supporters and a small number of Irish fans attended. The subdued setting, with coaches and players clearly audible, resembled the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when stadiums operated under attendance restrictions.

Ireland’s players wore black armbands to remember everyone killed in the conflict and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem. There were no pre-match handshakes or exchange of pennants.

Troy Parrott opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Adam Idah doubled Ireland’s lead two minutes later. Jack Moylan completed the first-half scoring in the 25th minute, then removed his black armband, kissed it and the badge on his shirt as supporters booed from the stand.

The result was a major lift for Ireland after their 1-0 defeat by Kosovo on Thursday. They are third in the group with three points, three behind leaders Austria, who beat second-placed Kosovo 3-1 earlier on Sunday.

However, the dispute is likely to continue. Many Irish supporters stayed away, while public broadcaster RTE provided no studio panel or analysis and sold no advertising around its coverage.

FAI chief executive David Courell said a “significant majority” of the squad had voted to play.

“Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue, as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures,” he said on Saturday.

Ireland are scheduled to face Israel again on 4 October in a nominal home match that has been moved to Serbia and will be played behind closed doors.

Elsewhere, Greece stunned Germany 1-0 through Dimitris Kourbelis’ 74th-minute goal to spoil Juergen Klopp’s home debut. It was Greece’s first win in 11 meetings with Germany and put them top of Group A2 on six points, while Germany have one.

Germany had nearly 80% possession in the first half but were punished for poor defending. Klopp, who took charge in July after Germany’s early World Cup exit, has now failed to win either of his first two games following Thursday’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands.

Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1, with Mexx Meerdink scoring twice on his second appearance for his country and giving Xavi Hernandez his first victory as coach.

In Group A4, Portugal beat Norway 2-1, with Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos scoring either side of Erling Haaland’s equaliser. Denmark beat Wales 2-0 through Ben Davies’ own goal and Gustav Isaksen’s strike.