The glamour games at Euro 2016 against Italy and France seem like a long time ago.
It’s back to the grind of qualification games for the Republic of Ireland, and a third game in three years against Georgia.
Martin O’Neill’s side beat the eastern European’s 1-0 at the Aviva last September thanks to a Jon Walters goal, and a mazy run by Jeff Hendrick. Otherwise, it was a dull, forgettable game.
A year before that Aiden McGeady scored twice in the first competitive game under O’Neill. Otherwise it was a dull, forgettable game.
Under Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland beat Georgia 2-1 at Croke Park. The team were trailing until being awarded a contentious penalty after 70 minutes.
Robbie Keane dispatched it and went on to the score the winner. Otherwise, it was a dull forgettable game.
Trap’s first competitive game as manager was also against Georgia, and Ireland also got lucky. The qualification game for the 2010 World Cup was played in Mainz in Germany, due to the conflict between Russia and Georgia at the time.
Vladimir Putin and a speculative Glenn Whelan shot helped Ireland win 1-2. Otherwise, it was a dull, forgettable game.
Ireland are expected to beat Georgia on Thursday. However, Georgia are arguably due some luck against Ireland, and O’Neill’s side will need to keep the ball an awful lot better than they did against Serbia last month.
It’ll probably be a dull, forgettable game, but here’s the XI O’Neill should pick to start at the Aviva.
Darren Randolph starts in goal, behind a back-four of Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Ciaran Clark and Robbie Brady.
Coleman is now Ireland’s captain, and an obvious choice at right-back. O’Shea is Ireland’s most experienced player and a calming presence at the back, while Clark has impressed for Newcastle United this season.
We’ve moved Brady from his midfield position to left-back, but the 24-year-old can push-on and offer an attacking outlet from left-back, as he did against Oman in the friendly before the Serbia game.
In midfield, James McCarthy makes his first start since August, after (hopefully) regaining fitness following a spell out injured. Jeff Hendrick partners him, with Wes Hoolahan in an advanced position.
Ireland really struggled to keep the ball against Serbia, completing just 94 passes in the game, and need Hoolahan back in the team. The team suffers a lobotomy when the Norwich playmaker is dropped.
James McClean will play wide-left, with Jon Walters playing up front/wide-right, and Shane Long leads the line.
The Southampton striker could badly do with a good performance and a goal. Long hasn’t scored since Ireland’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. That’s a run of 15 games without a goal.
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
