Ireland captain Nathan Collins says the international squad will listen to the views of any player who doesn’t want to play against Israel in the scheduled Nations League games next autumn and any decision to boycott the fixtures will be respected.
Collins was speaking after training ahead of Thursday night’s friendly against Qatar at the Aviva Stadium when more protests against the game are expected to be held.
“For players we just have to trust the FAI,” Collins told RTE Sport. “We have to trust the government that they know what they’re doing. We’re picked to play football. You know, we’re picked to represent our country. It’s a tough situation for us to be in and we have to trust the people around us, that they know what they are doing.
“What we’d speak about (as a group) is hard to say, because you need the whole group together. But if individuals wanted to take a stand, we are not going to stand against them, we are not going to hold them back. They are entitled to their own opinions. If they are very strong about that, we can’t stop them.”
Stephen Bradley labelled Monday night’s 2-1 win against Bohs as extra special as Enda Stevens scored a late, late winner in the final derby to be played at the famous venue before Dalymount Park is demolished.
Bradley also told the Irish Independent that he will speak to Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson to ask that goalkeeper Ed McGinty is released to play against St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night.
“We’ve had some good results here, you go back to the semi-final of the FAI Cup some years back but this was special because I thought we were very good in the game,” said Bradley.
“It’s Dublin derbies. Any derby, you watch any game in the world and, regardless of the level, managers will say the same thing, it’s moments and momentum. That’s what derbies are about. It’s a small margin. Tonight they went for us.”
Departing Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner wants to give the Eagles the perfect parting present with victory in tonight’s Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
On the eve of the game, Glasner told the Irish Sun what a win and a trophy would mean before he signs off. He said: “It would mean a lot to me, to play with these players, with this group, where we have worked together for two years. And to give it back to our fans.
“It would mean a lot, especially for the players, for the group. I know how hard every single player, every single one of the staff, worked throughout the season.”
Bruno Fernandes has reportedly asked Ole Gunner Solksjaer for Roy Keane’s phone number as the row between the Manchester United legends intensifies.
Keane has been critical of the manner in which Fernandes set a new record for assists in the Premier League this season while the Portugal midfielder claims that the Irishman has misrepresented him.
The Irish Mirror also reports that Keane appeared to take another swipe when sharing an Instagram story featuring the pointed message ‘too much attention makes a donkey think he’s a lion’.
Former Ireland striker and Reading manager Noel Hunt is one of five new full-time lead coaches working with Irish underage teams across the age brackets from Under 15 to Under 19.
The Irish Examiner reports that Hunt, Chelsea Noonan, John Cotter, Keith O’Halloran, and James Scott will work alongside four full-time coaches - Graham Gartland, Conor McCormack, Mark Connors and Richie Smith.
