Hallgrimsson's side face Israel in Serbia on Sunday after Thursday's game against Austra in Dublin Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson cut an almost frustrated figure after fielding questions before Thursday's Nations League Group B3 game against Austria at Dublin's Aviva Stadium (19:45 BST).
The conversation would normally revolve around the opposition or his own team's preparation, but this has been no ordinary international window with the fall-out from Sunday's 3-0 win over Israel , plus the chaotic build-up to that game in Debrecen still dominating discourse.
On Saturday, players voted to fulfil the Israel fixtures following goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu's decision to make himself unavailable, with the issue continuing to hang over the Irish camp before Sunday's behind-closed-doors return in Serbia.
Protests have continued this week with the 'Stop The Game' campaign - organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine - issuing an open letter calling for a boycott of this Sunday's game in Backa Topola due to the Israel-Gaza war.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has come under fire for their handling of the saga, with board members appearing before the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) Sports Committee in Dublin on Wednesday , while Hallgrimsson reflected on a "challenging time for me as a leader".
"I would think the Association would learn from these events like I will learn from them," the Republic of Ireland boss said on Wednesday. "I think we will all look back and be better afterwards, the same for the FAI.