Parrott, Idah and Moylan fire Ireland to 3-0 win over Israel amid Gaza controversy
A week of internal angst over Ireland's stance on Gaza threatened to derail this Nations League Group 3 fixture entirely. Instead, it forged a collective resolve. Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan each scored inside the opening 25 minutes as the Republic of Ireland put the controversy decisively aside to beat Israel 3-0 on Saturday night in an eerily empty Debrecen stadium — a win that felt less like a celebration and more like a statement of dignity.
Football and politics are inseparable in the modern world, no matter how many people wish they were not, and after seven days in which Irish support for the people of Gaza had turned this match into a battle of conscience, the outcome of an underwhelming contest often felt inconsequential. The question on Saturday night had been whether Heimir Hallgrimsson's side would take to the field in Hungary at all — and, if they did, whether their heads would be in the game. It turned out that a week of soul-searching had been enough to produce collective resolve among the Irish squad, or at least those selected to play. Strong and assertive from the off, their forwards settled the contest before half-time, with plenty of symbolic action to assure those back home of their feelings.
“It's probably been the toughest day of my coaching career,” Hallgrimsson said afterwards. “But it's not about me. It's about the players and they've shown today how much playing for Ireland means to them. They represented themselves on the pitch with dignity but also with the power of proud Irishmen. They've shown today how much playing for Ireland means to them and hopefully they will have the support of the Irish people.”
A haunted atmosphere in Debrecen
The atmosphere was reminiscent of a match played during Covid. Every word uttered in the ground was audible and the nigh-on empty stands carried their own oppressive weight. As the nominal home side, Israel had been allowed a small delegation of fans — about 150 — doing their best to be excitable. Meanwhile, two blocks away stood the Irish contingent: around a dozen people who had got into the ground despite the Football Association of Ireland's decision not to bring an away allocation, all stood hands in pockets in a stairway.
Ireland's mannered approach to the pre-match rituals heightened this odd, almost haunted mood. Irish staff faced away from the pitch when their national anthem was played, while the players — all wearing black armbands — stared at the ground during Israel's. There was no exchanging of pennants and no shaking of hands, with both squads hurried away from the centre circle into their own huddles.
Bazunu withdrawal and the Azaz dilemma
The game had come close to being abandoned on Saturday, when the goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for selection, his decision prompting emotional exchanges among players and management. Hallgrimsson responded by picking a team with defender Jimmy Dunne nominally a third goalkeeper and dropping the key forward Finn Azaz to the bench — one of five changes to the side that lost meekly to Kosovo. Azaz's mother has Israeli citizenship and the Southampton forward was reported to have made an impassioned contribution to Saturday's discussion.
“Today we thought others would fit this game better than him,” Hallgrimsson explained.
Three goals in 11 first-half minutes
After all the soul-searching, Ireland decided the contest in only 11 first-half minutes. Parrott opened the scoring in the 14th minute, turning home a low shot through the body of Daniel Peretz after impressive work on the right by wing-back James Abankwah. Two minutes later the lead was doubled when, running on the shoulder of the last defender, Adam Idah collected a smart through ball from Jack Moylan and wrapped a calm finish inside Peretz's left-hand post.
In the 25th minute Moylan got a goal of his own — his fourth in as many caps to continue a stellar start to his international career — driving 25 yards into the box before shooting low into the net. Moylan wheeled away to the corner flag, took off his black armband and kissed it.
Israel's brief rally ends in scuffles
Israel raised their levels momentarily in the second half, with the substitute Dor Peretz drawing one excellent save from Caoimhín Kelleher. But the game ultimately deteriorated into a series of scuffles, cheered on deliriously by the Israeli support, who appeared to be chanting for the IDF as the final whistle blew.
Their manager, Ran Ben-Shimon, was asked by Israeli media after the match whether he would resign following the defeat. He answered no. “We didn't handle the pressure well, that is obvious. We failed mentally, we failed tactically,” Ben-Shimon said. “But in a few days there is another game — we will have to find the energy to rise again.”