Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon said he wanted to separate soccer from the "difficult" context as his side prepares to take on France in the Nations League amid high security at the Stade de France on Thursday.

Israel has urged its citizens to avoid attending cultural and sporting events abroad following last week's violence in Amsterdam surrounding Maccabi Tel Aviv's Europa League match against Ajax.

Police said that there had been "hit and run" attacks against visiting Israeli fans, while adding that the Maccabi fans had burned a Palestinian flag and used sticks, pipes and rocks in clashes with opponents.