World Cup 2018 Qualifying Group D: Georgia v Republic of Ireland (Saturday, 5pm, live on Sky Sports Football and RTE 2)
THE Republic of Ireland’s record against Georgia is impeccable. Played eight and won eight (including a 4-0 friendly win four years ago).
Nevertheless, they always make the Irish nervous.
The script usually goes something like this: Georgia pass the Irish off the park and lose by a goal.
Tbilisi was where Martin O’Neill made his competitive debut as Ireland manager three years ago.
Two supremely taken goals in the closing stages from Aiden McGeady got the Irish off the hook that night as they went on to qualify for Euro 2016.
Last October, the Georgians were by far the better side in their World Cup Qualifier in Dublin until – and probably for some time after – Seamus Coleman embarked on that crazy run to bundle the ball over the line in the 56th minute.
In one of the poorest displays of O’Neill’s successful tenure, Georgia had more possession (56 per cent), they had more attempts on goal, more shots blocked and won more corners.
It’s one of football’s axioms that the Republic never play well against the technically clever Georgians.
Valdimir Weiss’s side are capable of getting results.
After playing with such energy and poise in Dublin 11 months ago, they drew with Wales three days later.
They also took an early lead at home to Serbia before coughing up three goals later in the tie.
Equally, they have trouble putting away fellow minnows such as Moldova whom they’ve drawn with twice in this qualification campaign.
Georgia were never expected to push for World Cup qualification so as Group D resumes tonight morale shouldn’t be an issue in the home side’s ranks.
They thrive on testing themselves against the better teams – but their chances of derailing the Republic’s qualification ambitions aren’t helped by the absence of some key players including, top striker Levan Mchedlidze of Empoli and attacking midfielder Tornike Okriashvilli.
But the sweltering conditions must favour the home side even though the Republic traditionally perform well in early-season qualification games.
On coping with the hot conditions, O’Neill said: “It’s been a really hot summer so I don’t imagine the temperature is going to be much different a couple of hours later. It’s what we face. We just have to cope with it as best we can. Hopefully the players will cope with it as best they can. But it’ll be very, very hot.”
Burnley’s new striker Jonathan Walters has been declared fit and should assume one of the attacking berths in the Irish team tonight.
With midfielders Jeff Hendrick and James McCarthy ruled out through injury, O’Neill is likely to field Harry Arter, Glenn Whelan and Robbie Brady in a three-pronged midfield.
Walters and James McClean are expected to flank Shane Long in attack even though the latter has had little game-time with Southampton since the start of the season.
At the back, the manager might be tempted to recall Ciaran Clark to his central defence to partner Shane Duffy with Burnley’s Kevin Long expected to miss out.
Stephen Ward and Cyrus Christie’s good early-season form for Burnley and Middlesbro, respectively ensures they both start in the full-back positions, with Darren Randolph retaining the goalkeeper’s jersey.
Naturally, some of O’Neill’s squad haven’t seen a lot of game-time in the early throes of the new season – Shane Long, for example – but the Ireland manager takes an optimistic view.
“I think it’s always a concern for a manager when he looks at the number of games that a player has played in pre-season, particularly now leading up to this game.
“But I’ve learned both as a player and as a manager some players take a little bit longer to get themselves ready for games; other players can actually come in and be ready.
“You’re hoping the likes of Shane Long, who hasn’t had much playing time but is still very important to us. He might feel as if: ‘I haven’t played as much but I feel fresh.’
“So you work one against the other.”
With the Irish on the same number of points as leaders Serbia, the pair are four points better off than Wales and Austria.
There’s a creeping sense of desperation about Wales and Austria’s respective stabs at World Cup qualification as the pair face-off in Cardiff tonight while Serbia should beat Moldova in Belgrade.
A win for the Republic tonight could see them aim for automatic qualification and they could look forward to the Serbia showdown in Dublin on Tuesday night with some relish.
But there will be sweaty palms in Tbilisi tonight. There always is, because it’s Georgia after all...
Republic of Ireland (probable): Randolph, Christie, Ward, Clarke, Duffy, Whelan, Arter, Brady, Walters, Long, McClean
