No other team should go through this - Hallgrimsson

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson could only say he was "delighted" this most trying of international windows is over and hopes "no national team to go through what we have gone through over the last two weeks".

With four games played - just one on Irish soil - and about 5,000 miles travelled, Sunday's behind-closed-doors 1-1 draw against Israel in the Serbian town of Backa Topola brought the curtain down on two weeks that have taken their toll.

That his side took the field against Israel this week, and in last week's 3-0 victory in Debrecen, came under scrutiny and fire with the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine's 'Stop The Game' campaign for a boycott because of the Israel-Gaza war.