Pico Lopes, Ireland’s favourite World Cup player, has again insisted that the FAI need to stop the Israel game going ahead, not just move it to a neutral venue.
In an online media conference from Tampa, part of which is available on TheSportsHacks.Com, Lopes reiterated his total opposition to Irish players being asked to play against Israel.
The chair of the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland was responding to a question from RTE’s Tony O’Donoghue on the day the Board of the FAI met again to discuss the Nations League games against Israel.
“I said it from the start, my stance remains the same. I don’t think the game should be played,” Lopes told RTÉ Sport.
“It’s terrible that the players have been put in this position. It’s terrible that the FAI have been put in this position as well.
“It’s a decision that should have been taken out of their hands. It hasn’t, and I just think that for the majority of people in the country, they don’t want the game to be played.
“So, I just I think it’s time to listen to the noises outside. I do understand, it’s a very difficult position for players and even them having to face the interviews that’s a really hard position for them to be in.
“But my stance hasn’t changed. I still think the game shouldn’t be played.”
Martin O’Neill has signed a one year deal to stay on as Celtic manager with the option to extend for a further season if the 74-year-old Ulsterman wants to remain in charge at Parkhead.
After twice answering an SOS from the Celtic owner Dermot Desmond and winning the double in the season just ended, O’Neill has retained the job despite the club’s interest in Robbie Keane.
Sky Sports News reports that the new contract also comes with a one-year option to extend.
“It is once again a great privilege for me to continue as Celtic manager,” O’Neill said. “Last season will live long in all our memories and to be part of that success has in a big way whetted the appetite to work again for more days like those and bring our supporters those moments.
“Of course, none of this could have been achieved without the players and staff and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for bringing that level of focus, determination and talent to bear at the conclusion of the season to deliver the league and Cup double.
“I thank our fans for their ongoing support, it means everything to us. I look forward to being back at Celtic Park next season when we will come together and we will strive again to bring our fans the success which that support deserves.”
Heimir Hallgrimsson has been criticised for giving his League of Ireland players so little time in the recent international window with Shamrock Rovers star Aaron Greene defending Dawson Devoy and Kian Leavy after their reduced roles against Canada last week.
Dawson was replaced at half-time in that 1-1 draw while Kian Leavy and Greene’s clubmate Adam Brennan were late substitutes.
Greene told the Irish Mirror’s Mark McCadden: “I think the league is only striving in that direction and I think you see the young players, Kian Leavy getting brought on and Dawson, I don’t know was he told he was getting taken off at half-time. I kind of thought it looked like a shot at the league to be honest.
“We really don’t know what goes on behind closed doors but he was the one who had the best chance within the game in the first half, didn’t he?
Galwegian Darryl Horgan will wear the Dundalk colours against his hometown club in the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division on Friday night - in Cork.
Due to the unavailability of Pearse Stadium, Galway United have been forced to move the game South as work continues on their Terryland home.
The newly crowned Soccer Writers Ireland player of the month told the Irish Examiner’s John Fallon: “Look, it’s not ideal. It’s always a very, very difficult game at Galway but, for me, it doesn’t really matter where you play.
“It’s disappointing that the game’s not in Pearse Stadium because I was really looking forward to that. The only downside is the distance for both teams and sets of fans to travel but it will still get a great crowd.”
The World Cup is up and running with Mexico off to a flyer in their 2-0 win at home to South Africa while Ireland’s conquerors Czechia were put back in their box with a 2-1 defeat to South Korea.
The BBC website is as good a place as any to keep up with the World Cup latest in a timezone hell and asks can the Czech Republic or South Africa turn things around and challenge for a spot in the knockout phase?
