Ireland's fixture with Israel goes ahead as Bazunu refuses to play

The Republic of Ireland's Nations League fixture against Israel, staged in Hungary, was set to go ahead on Saturday after the squad stopped short of a boycott, according to Guardian Football.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had refused to play in the match, citing Israel's military action in Gaza as his reason for withdrawing from selection.

The rest of the Ireland squad opted to fulfil the fixture, with the report noting the vote among players fell short of a full boycott of the game.

The decision to proceed came against a backdrop of wider debate around football's response to the conflict, though the source gives no detail beyond the players' vote and Bazunu's individual stance.

Elsewhere on the continent, England's Nations League campaign opened with a 3-2 defeat to Spain at Wembley, a result that prompted renewed scrutiny of the team's defensive frailties and Thomas Tuchel's decisions from the touchline.

The manner of the loss has reignited familiar questions about England's back line, with reaction focusing on how much should be read into an opening group match that was, by the Guardian's account, an entertaining contest.

Scotland began Sebastien Pocognoli's reign as head coach with a goalless draw away to Slovenia, a result described as broadly predictable given the circumstances of a first match in charge.

Wales, meanwhile, were also in action on Saturday, travelling to Denmark looking to respond after their tournament opened with defeat to Portugal.

With Nations League group fixtures continuing through the international window, England will be looking to arrest their defensive concerns before their next outing, while Ireland's focus now turns to how the events in Hungary are addressed within the wider football community.