Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has criticised reports about goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s withdrawal from the Nations League matches against Israel, saying “a lot of lies” had been told. Bazunu opted out of both games amid protests urging Ireland to boycott Israel over its war in Gaza, but Hallgrímsson said the squad had welcomed him back and that the episode had not broken their bond.

Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in last Sunday’s match, which went ahead after most of the squad voted to play. Bazunu is available for Thursday’s home game against Austria but will miss Sunday’s rematch, moved by the Football Association of Ireland to Serbia and set to be played behind closed doors; Hallgrímsson expects it to go ahead. Midfielder Finn Azaz, whose family has deep Israeli roots, was asked about for Sunday’s match, but the manager said his immediate focus was Austria and praised Azaz’s emotional composure.