Ireland coach James Weldon insists focus is on Latvia not Israel game ahead of Euros basketball qualifier

Ireland play both European games in Riga this week as they stage their 'home' game against Israel there also after criticism for previously facing the country amid its bombardment of Gaza.

Before that 87-57 defeat, Weldon's charges refused to shake hands in protest at being labelled "quite anti-Semitic" by opposition player Dor Saar in an interview with her federation's website.

And while Ireland vehemently denied the accusations and lodged a complaint with FIBA, they were given an official warning for unsportsmanlike behaviour over their protest.

The world governing body are yet to confirm whether Israel has received a warning or sanction following an independent review into February's game, but Saar has been named in Israel's European squad this week.

Despite all this, Weldon doesn't feel the need to address these issues again within his squad ahead of Thursday's clash with world No 28 side Latvia.

"Look, I suppose no, because with the game being on Thursday in Latvia, you can only approach these windows by putting the focus on the first game. Then you got to see where you are then," he said.

"I know that Israel play France in France on Thursday so they probably only get here possibly on Friday morning or afternoon. Whereas the last time we were had just the Thursday game so you had a longer lead-in period to the game.

"So look, as a group we've tried to keep the focus on the Latvia game. It's going to be great. It's going to be nice to play in front of a full house."

Weldon was speaking as he announced three debutantes – Hazel Finn (21), Aisling Moran (17) and Caitlin Gloeckner (19) – to face Latvia in the third game after two defeats in the campaign so far.

The Girls in Green sit bottom of their four-team group with only first place and four best second-placed progressing to next year's EuroBasket competition.

Weldon said work and college commitments ruled some players out of selection for the eight-day window abroad, with just two professionals in his squad.

To make their task more difficult they are again without international star Claire Melia, who also missed the last European qualifier with Israel in February.

Several players had boycotted that game over their own concerns around the on-going conflict in the Middle East, and Weldon said that issue was again discussed in the squad before this window.

"Yeah, no look. We had discussions. We always had discussions. As coach you always like to respect individual player's stances and work with players as best as possible.

"We are gaining more professionals but at the end of the day they're not professionals for Basketball Ireland. They're professionals for their own clubs."

Latvia v Ireland,

Live, TG4 Player, 5.40 Thursday

Ireland: Amy Dooley (Portlaoise Panthers), Hazel Finn (Liffey Celtics), Caitlin Gloeckner (Cleveland Rockets), Bridget Herlihy (Unicaja, Spain) Kate Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Sarah Hickey (Waterford Wildcats), Áine O'Connor (Liffey Celtics), Aisling Moran (Trinity Meteors), Alexandra Mulligan (Trinity Meteors), Grace Prenter (Trinity Meteors), Abigail Rafferty (Oakland Wolves, England).