Ireland boss Stephen Kenny is unsure whether you can force players to receive their vaccinations for COVID-19.
Issues off the pitch continued to be a strain on this Irish side during this World Cup campaign when Callum Robinson was forced to pull out of the squad due to a second positive COVID-19 test, while Shane Long also tested positive with the virus before the Portugal game.
Kenny said that these issues are frustrating, but assured that everything was being done to prevent them.
"We had a player who was double-vaccinated test positive" Kenny said.
"I spoke to our doctor Alan Byrne who said that there was probably only about a 10-15% chance of that. The player in question was so careful, he's an incredibly careful individual."
"Can you force people to have a vaccine? We make sure that the day before they come into camp, they have a PCR test. Once they come in, they have another one."
"Shane Long passed two tests before he tested positive."
"Will we get to the stage where we force people to have the vaccine - I don't know. I really don't know."
Shane Long, right, and Jason Knight of Republic of Ireland following the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and Luxembourg at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile"Connolly is only at 70% of his potential"
On matters on the pitch, Kenny says that there is a lot more to come from 21-year-old Aaron Connolly in an Ireland shirt, but he needs game time in order to reach his full potential.
The Brighton player's quality was called into question after Ireland's disappointing defeat to Portugal on Wednesday night, with the youngster missing a few opportunities in front of goal.
Kenny said that it wasn't a cause for concern and highlighted the fact that Connolly stretched the Portuguese defence on several occasions, despite the quality of they had at their disposal.
"Aaron Connolly is only at about 70% of his potential at the moment", Kenny said.
24 March 2021; Aaron Connolly of Republic of Ireland before the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Serbia and Republic of Ireland at Stadion Rajko Mitic in Belgrade, Serbia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile"I thought he did a brilliant job the other night. The way we set up the other night was that we created an overload with Jamie McGrath in midfield, created 3v2s, we isolated the position between Cancelo and Pepe, and Aaron punched holes in that channel all night."
"He was an outlet all night and he carried the ball with such pace."
Of the team that played in Portugal, Connolly is one of seven players with less than 15 caps for the country, something Kenny said we must remember when judging his performance.
"Probably because he hasn't been playing regularly, and other issues, I think he can be so much better."
"I think he's got a lot of potential. We've got to nurture him and try to get him to fulfil that."
Ireland continue their World Cup qualifying campaign tonight when they face Azerbaijan in the Aviva Stadium.
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