Ireland aim to silence pressure ahead of Israel fixtures

Republic of Ireland winger Chiedozie Ogbene missed a clear chance in the first half of Thursday's 1-0 defeat by Kosovo and appealed for the public not to "put the pressure on us" as the side prepares for upcoming Nations League games against Israel.

Public calls to boycott the Israel matches

Since the teams were drawn together in Group B3, a "Stop The Game" campaign has gathered momentum in Ireland, with increasing calls to withdraw from the fixtures because of the ongoing situation in Gaza. The campaign has amplified debate around the two matches scheduled for the campaign.

Ogbene told RTE Sport that the decision‑making rests with officials, not players, adding that the squad will discuss its approach after a meeting arranged by stand‑in captain Dara O'Shea on Friday.

Logistics and dates of the Israel fixtures

The first encounter will take place in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday, while the return leg is set for 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia. Both games are part of the Nations League schedule and will be played behind closed doors, meaning no Irish fans will attend.

Ogbene acknowledged the broader discourse but insisted the team focused solely on Kosovo, saying, "All our mindset was on Kosovo to win this game and then deal with what's coming." He reflected on his own performance, admitting the missed opportunity was "poor from myself and poor from the standards we set ourselves".

Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made several fine saves, and Kosovo’s Vedat Muriqi broke the deadlock seven minutes from time. The loss marks a slow start to Ireland’s Nations League campaign.

Ogbene concluded that while the result was disappointing, the squad must now look ahead to the Israel matches, hoping to avoid further criticism and deliver performances that match the team’s own expectations.