SOCCER/Rep of Ireland v Georgia:IT'S FOUR and half years since Ireland beat a team of even modest ability by more than a goal in a competitive home game and more than 20 since the country topped a qualification group for the one and only time.
As Robbie Keane mulled over things yesterday, however, the Ireland skipper suggested the Republic’s current crop might just be on course to address both matters: with a decent win over Georgia at Croke Park this evening moving Giovanni Trapattoni’s men a step closer to stealing Group Eight’s sole automatic place at next year’s World Cup from under the noses of the defending champions.
To date Ireland have taken seven points from three games against some of the group’s lesser lights and a win tonight would send them level with Italy at the top of the table.
The situation is clearly a substantial improvement on the same stage last time around with the Irish certainly in a strong position to secure a play-off place.
To judge by Keane’s comments at yesterday’s pre-match press conference, though, the captain is reluctant to settle for that.
“We have to set our sights high,” insisted the 28-year-old. “This is out best chance now since I’ve been involved with the team to qualify straight off; it’s not going to be easy but we’ve played well in recent games and hopefully we can continue that.
“Don’t get me wrong, Italy are a great team. They have a great manager, great players but it’s up to us to prove how good we are too.”
The narrowness of October’s win over Cyprus when Keane scored what proved to be the night’s only goal after five minutes hardly justifies his apparent confidence but, with crucial games against Bulgaria and Italy only a month and a half away, the Dubliner insists a more convincing victory this evening would help to make his target more achievable.
“It would be great for everyone if we could go out there, keep a clean sheet and score a few goals,” he says. “It would give everyone a lift.”
For Trapattoni, however, the three points remain the priority.
“The Italian philosophy is the result,” he said. “Today we talk and tomorrow we can read about it in the newspapers but on Thursday morning all that is finished. There is the table. That is reality. Whether we play well or not I want to win and be equal with Italy. To play well but not win? No! The result. That is football; that is life.”
By that measure Trapattoni’s countrymen have a good deal to be happy with after the first phase of their campaign but, insists the former Italy coach, they have been riding their luck a little and a win for Ireland this evening would, he feels, cause Marcello Lippi, who will be watching at Croke Park, some genuine concern.
“I’m sure,” he said, “that if we win and equal Italy in the table then in Italy my colleagues will begin to shake a little bit. They will respect us a little bit more.”
Tonight’s visitors, however, are some way short of being at full strength, with Hector Cuper obliged to cope without two experienced defenders – Lasha Saluqvadze and Giorgi Shashiashvili – as well as two of his brightest young prospects – Levan Kenia (the scorer of Georgia’s goal in Mainz) and Levan Mchedlidze.
In terms of setting Ireland up for the greater tests to come, however, the manner of any Irish win this evening could also prove to be important.
Having come on and scored against Poland before Christmas, Keith Andrews will take over from Darron Gibson as Glenn Whelan’s partner in central midfield and with Steven Reid out until next season, Trapattoni could do with the Blackburn man settling in well.
Gibson has consistently hinted at the abundant promise he possesses during his handful of appearances for Ireland but in November the Poles repeatedly swept through the Ireland midfield en route to goal and despite talking it up afterwards, the course of that game must have left Trapattoni thinking of a change.
It is an indication of where we stand in this department these days that he has looked to Andrews to provide it on the basis of half a season of regular top-flight football at Blackburn.
With the manager still unsure whether Paul McShane is fit enough to come through 90 minutes, meanwhile, Stephen Kelly may find himself on standby until shortly before kick-off.
At the other end, Keane will resume his partnership with Kevin Doyle after missing the Poland game and both will go into the game with strong hopes of adding to their international tallies.
If the last couple of years are anything to go by, then quite a few of the boxes will go unticked and a narrow, somewhat nervy win of the sort Trapattoni says he will happily accept, should prove to be the order of the day.
Anything less would firmly dispel Keane’s talk of pinching top spot from the Italians.
IRELAND: Given (Manchester City); Kelly (Stoke City) or McShane (Sunderland), Dunne (Manchester City), O’Shea (Manchester United), Kilbane (Hull City); Duff (Newcastle United), Whelan (Stoke City), Andrews (Blackburn), McGeady (Celtic); Keane (Tottenham), Doyle (Reading).
GEORGIA (probable): Lomaia; Lobjanidze, Kaladze, Khishinishvili, Kvakhadze; Menteshashvili, Kobiashvili, Razmadze, Odikadze; Gotsiridze, Iashvili.
Referee: Jouni Hyytia (Finland).
