Right, that’s all from me. A couple of extra points here would have come in handy for the Republic, but ’twas not to be. Bye!
Here’s a match report:
And now, Mick McCarthy:
I’m happy. It’s a point. If somebody had said to me at the start when we were playing Georgia we’d get four points off them, I think I’d have took that. They’ve had a lot of the ball and Darren’s not made a save. It’s a tough game and a good point, I believe. We’ve proved already we’re a hard nut to crack.
I thought Connolly was excellent. He’s not on that long but he’s sharp, he got turned round. The one he got in I thought he was going to score and have a perfect debut. I felt we needed a presence up front which James collins gave us. He put a shift in. He didn’t get many chances but he contributed to that 0-0, that’s for sure. I thought, any goal was going to come from a free kick or a corner and that was probably us as well. And that nearly happened at the end.
We’re a point better off, we’ll get ready for Switzerland and we’ll try to beat them. Of course we know what a good team they are. Of course it might all hinge on the Denmark game at home, but we’ll try to take care of Switzerland first.
Here’s John Egan:
Unfortunately hit the post and popped out. I think if we’d nicked an early goal we’d have been very hard to break down. It wasn’t to be but we dug deep and had a couple of opportunities and could have nicked it in the end. They’re a good side and you have to be really on it to come here and get a result. But we kept a clean sheet and there’s always a chance of winning the game when you keep a clean sheet, we just didn’t take our half-chances. At the end, we probably finished the stronger. The longer it went on you could feel there might be one more chance. Unfortunately we didn’t take it.
Ireland could have done with a bit more pace, or height, or quality in attack. With none of those, goals are going to be hard to find, and with McClean sub-par and Collins invisible they struggled. Connolly came on with 10 minutes to play, and did well enough to make Mick McCarthy look silly for waiting so long, but not well enough to actually score.
Ireland’s debutant Aaron Connolly has a chat:
It’s definitely up there with my proudest moments in football so far, it’s just gutting we didn’t get the goal. As a striker when you get in those situations you have to score. I just tried to come on and maybe change the game a little bit. I’ve got two chances, probably should have put one of them away. It’s a bit disappointing I didn’t, but overall it was a good performance.
We could have won, could have lost at the end of the day. We’ve got a big game on Tuesday. Get three points there and everyone says this is a good point.
The bad news: The Republic of Ireland missed out on a chance to take control of the group and of their destiny.
The good news: It’s over.
So there were three shots on target in the entire game, one of which nobody noticed, and two of which happened in the 90th minute or later.
Updated
Final score: Georgia 0-0 Republic of Ireland
90+5 mins: And that’s it!
90+5 mins: Save! Duffy gets his head to the ball but it deflects off a defender and straight to Loria, who is standing in the middle of the goal.
Updated
90+4 mins: Ireland win a corner! Jeff Hendrick runs across to take it. Can they conjure some last-minute magic?
Updated
90+4 mins: Into the last minute of advertised stoppage time.
Updated
90+2 mins: An actual chance! The ball is booted forward by Whelan and Connolly is running through from halfway! With two defenders to his right he can’t really cut inside, so he lashes it wide with his left foot!
Updated
A shot on target!
90 mins: That’s a shot on target, no doubt about it! McClean sets it up for Connolly, whose first-time left-footer is pretty easily saved by Loria. That’s the best moment of the match by far. And, just to be clear, it’s a rubbish moment.
89 mins: Kakabadze cuts inside and hits a 25-yarder way over the bar with his left foot. Georgia bring on Giorgi Aburjania, and take off Kiteishvili.
88 mins: The referee has the yellowest whistle I’ve ever seen. Ireland win (well, are given) the ball just outside their area and as they try to break Gia Grigalava just starts running into people in an attempt to stop them and give away a free kick instead. Eventually he succeeds, and gets booked for his cynicism.
86 mins: Whelan tries to pick out Connolly, but falls over mid-pass.
83 mins: A chance! Lobjanidze runs with the ball into the area after a defensive mix-up, but is so astonished to be inside the penalty area with the ball and in space that he suffers a massive brainfade and passes to an Irishman.
81 mins: It’s a rubbish corner, headed clear at the near post. The ball is sent back into the box, but straight to Randolph.
80 mins: Kiteishvili has a shot from 40 yards, because why not? It deflects off Browne, and Georgia have another corner.
79 mins: Georgia take off Okriashvili, and bring on Elguja Lobjanidze.
78 mins: Another Georgian player is on the floor. It’s Okriashvili, who needs some treatment. Ireland take the opportunity to bring Aaron Connolly on for Collins.
76 mins: Something! McClean’s cross from the left is headed to Hendrick, on the right side of the penalty area, whose shot hits the side netting!
75 mins: “I think this is one of the very very worst games of football I’ve seen in a long time,” says Anthony O’Connell, as Duffy goes on a great run from the edge of his area to the halfway line before overhitting his pass. “We need to bring Connolly on and two others and just shake it up. We can actually string three passes together. Awful from Ireland, truly awful.”
73 mins: Substitutions! Ireland take off Robinson and bring on Alan Browne. Georgia take off Kvilitaia and bring on Levan Shengelia.
69 mins: According to Uefa’s match statistics Ireland have had a shot on target. I’m not entirely sure when. I must have lost consciousness for a moment. It must have been Hendrick’s header at the start of this half, though given that it was straight at the goalkeeper, from a foot away from the goalkeeper, and from well wide of goal I don’t think it should count.
Updated
66 mins: Ananidze gets up, brushes himself down and lifts the free kick over the wall, and also the goal.
65 mins: A yellow card! Ananidze is fouled by Whelan – actually he’s more just run into – and the Irishman is in the book! Incredible scenes! And, also, a dangerous free kick.
62 mins: Georgia hit the ball forwards. It bounces out of play. Randolph takes a goal kick. It goes out for a throw-in.
58 mins: Nothing much has changed since half time, sadly.
55 mins: Tabidze wins the cynical trip of the day award, bringing down Hendrick for no obvious reason or tactical advantage. “I’m having a pretty chill morning in western Canada watching the game while drinking some coffee with ABV additive,” writes Travis Giblin. “I have to say, at least the coffee is helping keep me awake because this game has been a snoozefest so far.” Indeed, it could be described as edge-of-your-seat entertainment only because viewers might be preparing to get up and turn the TV off.
Updated
53 mins: The ball is half-cleared to Kiteishvili, who runs onto it as it bounces and powers a header goalwards. Kvilitaia is in the way, though, and he not only deflects it over the bar, he does so with his arm.
Updated
52 mins: Ananidze’s free-kick is headed wide by a defender, leading to Georgia’s first corner of the game, which leads to their second corner of the game.
51 mins: Kakabadze is not only back on the pitch, but he crosses the ball from the right. The biggest problem with this game is that Ireland are much better at heading than Georgia are at crossing.
48 mins: After very brief treatment he hops up and half-limps to the touchline. It looks like he’ll be able to continue.
48 mins: Otar Kakabadze, the Georgia defender, goes down, with nobody anywhere near him.
46 mins: The encouraging sight of a flapping goalkeeper! McClean crosses from the left, and Loria forgets how to catch. He recovers to block Hendrick’s header, though.
46 mins: Peeeeep! Ireland start half two.
The players come back out. Can anyone grab the goal that would transform this game? We’re about to find out!
There have been seven goal attempts in all, five from the home side. Not one has been on target.
Half time: Georgia 0-0 Republic of Ireland
45+1 mins: That’s all for now. For most of the half Georgia were about to threaten, but they never actually got around to threatening. Neither did Ireland, that early post-strike excepted. The only way is up.
45+1 mins: Into stoppage time, of which there’ll be a minute or so.
45 mins: Egan wins the header and sends it goalwards, but the referee spots some pushing in the box and blows his whistle, and anyway Loria saved easily enough.
44 mins: Another Ireland corner is about to happen. Set pieces look very much like their best chance.
42 mins: Ireland win a corner but it’s not a good one, Georgia break and at the end of it Qazaishvili sends a shot from outside the area zipping wide.
41 mins: This game has goalless draw written all over it in big block capitals. Still, we live in hope.
Updated
40 mins: Okriashvili is cleanly tackled, but falls over and wins a free-kick anyway. Happily, Georgia do nothing with it.
38 mins: “There was a time when international team sheets had club names alongside each player. Not only is this necessary for the Georgia team but increasingly so for the Ireland squad,” sniffs, um, someone who doesn’t give me their name. Yeah, those were the days. If you do want to know more about the players, you can find some useful information here.
35 mins: Ireland threaten! Robinson crosses from the right, but McClean can’t quite reach it as it bounces across goal!
33 mins: The Republic win the ball but make a hash of clearing, Whelan testing Randolph with a slightly troublesome back-pass, and Randolph then mishitting his clearance along the ground and straight into trouble. They get away with it.
30 mins: Qazaishvili twinkles on the left but fails to find space to cross, then gets it back, tries again and fails again. Georgia eventually give up on the whole crossing thing and pass the ball all the way back to their defence.
27 mins: Doherty storms down the left, cuts inside, gets to the byline, but he has no confidence in his left foot and in contorting himself to centre with his right he lets the ball run out of play.
25 mins: Ireland have fought their way into this game, keeping play inside the central third for a while. When Georgia do push forward, Ireland once again intercept, clear and win a free kick, Hourihane being fouled by Kiteishvili.
22 mins: “Is it just me, or does this match seem to be going in slow motion?” asks Joe Pearson. “Oh, and the pitch looks dreadful.” I think it might just be you, though Georgia certainly favour an approach that could be called either patient or boring, depending on your outlook. The pitch is a bit bobbly, though.
20 mins: Nine players back (plus the keeper, so 10 really) for the Irish as Georgia threaten, but the home side can’t find a way through.
Updated
18 mins: Ireland have the ball, and keep it for a little while. The home fans whistle in fury.
17 mins: Okriashvili ignores a couple of well-placed team-mates in favour of attempting an impossible shot, which goes wide. Georgia have had 66% of possession so far. “Michael Flatley? No sir, I’m not having that comparison. Like the boxer Bernard Hopkins said, I’d rather be compared to Mary Poppins,” insists JR. “And somebody should tell ol’ Vlad that Flatley’s not even Irish. He’s from not far from where I am, the south side of Chicago!”
15 mins: Never mind Lord of the Dance, the Republic are very much playing second fiddle here. Still, they nearly scored from their only attacking free-kick, so there’s some promise there.
13 mins: Another attack from the home side, but this time when the ball is chipped into the box Okriashvili theatrically throws himself to the turf, and is rightly ignored by the referee.
12 mins: Chance for Georgia! The ball is laid back to Ananidze, just outside the Republic’s penalty area, who has time to measure his shot but fluffs his calculations and scuffs it wide.
10 mins: Georgia attack down the right again, but this time the cross is low and Glenn Whelan is well placed to intercept and clear. Again, Ireland then win a free kick in their own half and can relax a bit.
7 mins: Georgia work a fine attack, keeping possession well, moving the ball, bringing numbers forward, but when they eventually cross from the right it’s headed clear, and Collins wins a free kick just outside the area.
4 mins: Ireland hit the post! They win a free kick on the left flank, which Hourihane sends into the area. Egan does well to win the header and glance it across goal, but with the goalkeeper a spectator it hits the meat of the post and rebounds to a defender who clears!
1 mins: The first shot of the day comes off the right boot of Qazaishvili, who from 15 yards or so lashes the ball well wide of goal.
1 min: And they’re off! The home side get the game going.
Anthems over, we’re about to get some football.
There is some absolutely horrible anthem-singing from the Georgian players. I’m not sure who the microphone was pointing at at the start, but the noise coming out of his mouth is unforgivable.
And out they come! Judging by the number of green-shirted supporters shielding their eyes, the away end has got the worst of the setting sun.
The players are in the tunnel, with kick-off just a few minutes away.
Looks like a lovely day in Tbilisi. The picture wires are full of pictures of people in T-shirts. Well, Irish fans in T-shirts and locals in jumpers. Still, blue skies at least.
Mick McCarthy has a chat, firstly about James Collins:
He’s come up into the Championship this year, he’s playing well and scoring goals and I thought he made the difference when he came on against Bulgaria. Players who sit on the bench and travel around when they get a chance they have to take it, and he did that.
On his back four, and Doherty at left-back:
He’s done fine. I’ve asked him when we’ve trained, just go and play at left-back. He’s one of the best wing-backs over the last two or three years, he’s played left-back for one and a half seasons with Wolves before. I think if you’d asked him, he’d rather be there than not involved.
I want to perform like we did against them in Dublin. That’s to get the first and stop them playing, and when we have it to be comfortable in possession and try and pin them back. I’d like to come off thinking we’d been equal in possession.
Ken Early’s match preview for the Irish Times is excellent. It’s here, and worth a click.
The teams in full, then:
Georgia: Loria, Kakabadze, Kashia, Tabidze, Grigalava, Kankava, Kiteishvili, Okriashvili, Ananidze, Qazaishvili, Kvilitaia. Subs: Elguja Lobjanidze, Shengelia, Makaridze, Saba Lobjanidze, Navalovski, Kharaishvili, Aburjania, Daushvili, Khotcholava, Kupatadze, Kvirkvelia.
Republic of Ireland: Randolph, Coleman, Duffy, Egan, Doherty, Whelan, Hourihane, Robinson, Hendrick, McClean, Collins. Subs: Long, Browne, Connolly, Cullen, Byrne, Williams, O’Hara, O’Dowda, Maguire, Hogan, Travers, Judge.
Referee: Marco Guida (Italy).
Here’s the Georgia team, in two alphabets. They make one change to the team that drew with Denmark, Jaba Kankava replacing Giorgi Aburjania in midfield:
⚽️ მატჩის დღე: 🇬🇪 საქართველო - ირლანდიის რესპუბლიკა 🇮🇪
— Georgia (@GeorgianFF) October 12, 2019
⚽️ Match Day: 🇬🇪 #GFF 🆚 @FAIreland 🇮🇪
📜 ჩვენი გუნდის შემადგენლობა! 🇬🇪
📜 Our line-up for this afternoon's @UEFAEURO qualifier! 🇬🇧 #GEOIRL #timetowin pic.twitter.com/pZq8o3Xzft
Updated
Team news! James Collins makes his competitive debut for the Republic of Ireland, replacing the injured David McGoldrick, in one of three changes from last month’s friendly win over Bulgaria. Matt Doherty replaces the suspended Enda Stevens at left-back and John Egan moves into central defence.
TEAM NEWS: James Collins makes his first start for Ireland, and Matt Doherty replaces the suspended Enda Stevens as Mick McCarthy names his team to play Georgia#COYBIG #GEOIRL pic.twitter.com/30uKRG6gNJ
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) October 12, 2019
Hello world!
Top of the group by two points, unbeaten in five games, the Republic of Ireland’s qualifying campaign is going swimmingly. But they could still flounder: their two remaining games after this one are against Switzerland (in Geneva on Tuesday) and at home to Denmark, the two other teams competing for final berths. Crucially however those two play in Copenhagen today, making this one final and fantastic opportunity for the Irish to put daylight between themselves and their pursuers. Today’s results will not be definitive, but they could come close: should Ireland win today and Denmark lose, Mick McCarthy will know that a draw in his side’s final home game, or a win in either of their final two fixtures, would be enough.
But let’s not get carried away. Ireland last visited Tbilisi just over two years ago, when they were held to a 1-1 draw in World Cup qualifying, and though they have beaten Georgia at home in this qualifying campaign and their last, on both occasions the score was 1-0. In Georgia’s most recent qualifier, in Tbilisi last month, they held Denmark to a goalless draw. “We must play like we did against Denmark, but we need more quality in the attacking area,” said Vladimir Weiss, their manager. “We hope we will score first, and for the first time in history I hope we can beat Ireland. But we must play at 120%, to play at 100% is not enough.”
The build-up has been illuminated by some entertaining dancing-related repartee between the managers, with Weiss saying that Ireland “play with phenomenal energy, just like Michael Flatley dances. There are good dancers in Georgia too, but he’s very special.” When McCarthy was told about this assessment he paused to think for a while before settling on being very pleased. “When someone describes you as someone who is as brilliant as Michael Flatley, such a wonderful performer and dancer, and a good guy, actually, I’ll take that as a huge compliment of my team,” he beamed.
So once they lace up their boots, will Ireland turn out to be more Michael Flatley or Ed Balls* today? We’re about to find out! Well, in an hour or so anyway. Until then, welcome!
* More recent dancing-related comparisons unavailable due to ignorance.
