Israel’s fixtures have been the main focus of this international break, with the Republic of Ireland facing calls to pull out of the matches. The appeal came from the ‘Stop The Game’ campaign, organised by the Irish Sport for Palestine pressure group, whose supporters demonstrated outside the Aviva Stadium before the match against Austria.
Thursday’s first half was also briefly halted by a protest involving tennis balls and by a spectator entering the pitch.
Hallgrimsson admitted that he had been concerned about the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium before the match, but said the backing from the crowd lifted the squad.
“Honestly, I was unsure about what to expect,” the 59-year-old said.
“The ‘Stop The Game’ campaign has clearly made its voice heard. I do not know exactly how many people are involved, but it has attracted plenty of attention. It was therefore encouraging to see the fans come out and support us tonight. I want to thank everyone who attended and stood behind the team because it makes a significant difference to us.
“Their backing gives us an even stronger sense of pride when representing our country.”
Ahead of last week’s match in Debrecen, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from both fixtures against Israel, explaining that he believed taking part would not be right.
On the day before the Israel fixture, the Republic of Ireland squad voted on whether to take part. Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said a clear majority supported playing the match.
Asked whether the backing shown during the Austria match could benefit the players before their second meeting with Israel, Hallgrimsson replied: “I cannot speak for them, so you would need to ask the players.
“I hope it does. Hopefully, everyone now feels more valued than they did before this game. If that addresses the question, I believe we certainly feel more appreciated.”
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