WHEN GEORGIA WERE described as one of the “lesser teams” in Group D earlier this week, Martin O’Neill refused to agree.
Having faced them as recently as 12 months ago, the Ireland manager will have a good idea of what to expect in tonight’s World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium (7.45pm).
Despite picking up six points from the two encounters during the last campaign, the Boys in Green were made to work for the victories. Only a moment of magic from Aiden McGeady denied the Georgians a point in Tbilisi as the visitors snatched a 2-1 win in O’Neill’s first competitive game in charge.
Former Slovakia manager Vladimir Weiss has since replaced previous coach Kakhaber Tskhadadze. His task has been to rebuild the team after their fifth-place finish in a tough Euro 2016 qualifying group, which included Ireland, Germany, Poland, Scotland and Gibraltar.
Georgia hosted Austria last month and narrowly lost out 2-1 with Spartak Moscow’s Jano Ananidze scoring after they had fallen two goals behind in the first half.
Seven players who featured that night started against Ireland in September of last year and O’Neill has emphasised several times that he feels they will prove difficult opponents once again.
“We want to get on the front-foot and we want to try go and attack.” O’Neill said yesterday. “We’re playing at home.
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“The onus is on us to try and attack, which is what we have done in the all the games we’ve played at home in my time anyway.
“We’ve had difficult games against them in the past and tomorrow (Thursday) will definitely be no exception. I think it’s a big test.
Anyone who watched the Georgia-Austria game, they caused Austria a lot of problems during the course of the game and could have forced an equaliser.
“And anyone who watched the matches over the last couple of years will know it’s a difficult game. Georgia will take points from teams — without doubt.
“The games are difficult but we have got to deal with that now. It would be great if we had everyone fit and raring to go, (but) it’s not the case.
“Every game is important and we have got to be ready. We have never been in a position to treat any team (lightly) like that. And we certainly won’t treat Georgia like that because they have got some excellent players.”
Coleman and Levan Mchedlidze of Georgia when the teams met a year ago. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Seamus Coleman, who is set to start tonight, faced Georgia on both occasions under the current management team and set up McGeady for that wonderful winner.
“We know a lot about them from the last campaign and we needed a little bit of magic from Aiden McGeady out there,” the Everton defender recalls. “At home, it was late when Johnny (Walters) got his goal and they beat Spain not so long ago in a friendly match.
“They’ve also run Germany and Austria close so it’s a tough game and it’s not going to be a walkover by any means. We’re going to have to be on our game tomorrow night.”
Coleman and O'Neill speaking to the media on Wednesday. Gary Carr / INPHO
Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO
O’Neill was convinced Ireland’s group opener, a 2-2 draw away to Serbia, was a point won rather than two dropped and praised the performance on the night.
That said, one improvement he would like to see from his side relates to retaining possession in crowd areas.
“The players should feel more confidence in themselves to be able to deal with the ball,” said O’Neill. “I’m not talking about dealing with the ball when you’ve got space, it’s dealing with the ball in tighter situations, which the players are capable of doing.
“The pitch was difficult, but it was difficult for both teams, and there was a spell (against Serbia) where we were giving it away.
“If you’re asking me one thing, I think ball retention, if we can, could be better. I believe we can and I think that we’ve proved it in a lot of the matches that we played in the Euros and big matches here — when we needed the ball to score goals. ”
– First published 08.00
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McGeady, Hendrick...? Ireland may need another moment of magic to unlock Georgia
WHEN GEORGIA WERE described as one of the “lesser teams” in Group D earlier this week, Martin O’Neill refused to agree.
Having faced them as recently as 12 months ago, the Ireland manager will have a good idea of what to expect in tonight’s World Cup qualifier at the Aviva Stadium (7.45pm).
Despite picking up six points from the two encounters during the last campaign, the Boys in Green were made to work for the victories. Only a moment of magic from Aiden McGeady denied the Georgians a point in Tbilisi as the visitors snatched a 2-1 win in O’Neill’s first competitive game in charge.
Back in Dublin, Jeff Hendrick showed wonderful feet to set up Jon Walters midway through the second half for the only goal of the game.
Former Slovakia manager Vladimir Weiss has since replaced previous coach Kakhaber Tskhadadze. His task has been to rebuild the team after their fifth-place finish in a tough Euro 2016 qualifying group, which included Ireland, Germany, Poland, Scotland and Gibraltar.
Georgia hosted Austria last month and narrowly lost out 2-1 with Spartak Moscow’s Jano Ananidze scoring after they had fallen two goals behind in the first half.
Seven players who featured that night started against Ireland in September of last year and O’Neill has emphasised several times that he feels they will prove difficult opponents once again.
“We want to get on the front-foot and we want to try go and attack.” O’Neill said yesterday. “We’re playing at home.
“The onus is on us to try and attack, which is what we have done in the all the games we’ve played at home in my time anyway.
“We’ve had difficult games against them in the past and tomorrow (Thursday) will definitely be no exception. I think it’s a big test.
“And anyone who watched the matches over the last couple of years will know it’s a difficult game. Georgia will take points from teams — without doubt.
“The games are difficult but we have got to deal with that now. It would be great if we had everyone fit and raring to go, (but) it’s not the case.
“Every game is important and we have got to be ready. We have never been in a position to treat any team (lightly) like that. And we certainly won’t treat Georgia like that because they have got some excellent players.”
Seamus Coleman, who is set to start tonight, faced Georgia on both occasions under the current management team and set up McGeady for that wonderful winner.
“We know a lot about them from the last campaign and we needed a little bit of magic from Aiden McGeady out there,” the Everton defender recalls. “At home, it was late when Johnny (Walters) got his goal and they beat Spain not so long ago in a friendly match.
“They’ve also run Germany and Austria close so it’s a tough game and it’s not going to be a walkover by any means. We’re going to have to be on our game tomorrow night.”
O’Neill was convinced Ireland’s group opener, a 2-2 draw away to Serbia, was a point won rather than two dropped and praised the performance on the night.
That said, one improvement he would like to see from his side relates to retaining possession in crowd areas.
“The players should feel more confidence in themselves to be able to deal with the ball,” said O’Neill. “I’m not talking about dealing with the ball when you’ve got space, it’s dealing with the ball in tighter situations, which the players are capable of doing.
“The pitch was difficult, but it was difficult for both teams, and there was a spell (against Serbia) where we were giving it away.
“If you’re asking me one thing, I think ball retention, if we can, could be better. I believe we can and I think that we’ve proved it in a lot of the matches that we played in the Euros and big matches here — when we needed the ball to score goals. ”
– First published 08.00
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