For the third time in the campaign the Republic of Ireland face a match that their manager describes as a “must-win” – and this time, surely, they really must win. Martin O’Neill’s side drew the previous two, at home to Poland and Scotland, but those dropped points turned out to be less costly than feared, as Georgia’s win over the Scots on Friday granted the Irish an unlikely reprieve in the race for Euro 2016 qualification. Anything other than victory over Georgia in Dublin on Monday would be a blow from which even they would struggle to recover.
Friday’s twist in Tbilisi, which came just before Ireland beat Gibraltar 4-0, put new spring in Irish steps. Having looked like outsiders this time last week, O’Neill’s men now know that a win against Georgia, allied to a Scottish defeat by Germany, would give Ireland a strong grip on third place at least. “It’s amazing how things can change around in a few days,” said the captain, Robbie Keane. “When results go your way, your confidence goes from [down] there to [up] there. Now it’s a must-win game, no question. The players are raring to go.”
O’Neill, having watched the way they played against Gordon Strachan’s side, has warned that Georgia’s players are also raring to go and says the visitors have the ability to upset Ireland too. Georgia tend not to travel well – their only competitive away win in the last decade was against Gibraltar – but O’Neill says the fact that they flew to Dublin immediately after beating Scotland shows they are approaching this game with real belief.
“I was thinking that they might celebrate or something and fly out on Sunday but they came here straight after the game so that’s how serious their intentions are,” says O’Neill, adding that a combative opponent is what his side need. “That’s actually not a bad thing for us. I don’t think we’re capable of sitting back and thinking something is going to happen. We have to fight for everything.”
Ireland are likely to be at full strength, with Seamus Coleman expected to have shaken off the hamstring bother that forced him to miss the Gibraltar match. Cyrus Christie excelled in place of the Everton right-back and even opened the scoring but the manager made it clear that Coleman’s class and experience make selecting him an obvious choice for such a critical match. “Cyrus has a good future ahead of him but Seamus Coleman is a real quality player,” says O’Neill. “If Seamus is fit, Seamus will play.”
Wes Hoolahan’s place looks even more secure. The Norwich City playmaker was often overlooked by previous Irish managers, who apparently prized solidity above invention, but he has become his country’s main creative force since O’Neill took charge 22 months ago. His club manager, Alex Neil, has suggested this season that the 33-year-old needs to be used sparingly and has given him the full 90 minutes only once in the Premier League but O’Neill has no doubts about Hoolahan’s ability to play two international matches in four days.
“He’s about as young a 33-year-old as I’ve seen,” says O’Neill, who believes Hoolahan may now be benefiting from being overlooked by previous managers. “During the course of his career he might be like one of those racehorses, lightly raced. Not always been in everyone’s starting lineup. He’s 33 going on about 18. He’s a growing influence in our side, particularly at home, where we’re having to try to unlock defences. He’s particularly good at that, certainly improving.”
Keane – 35 going on 36 – looks likely to start again after taking his international goal tally to 67 with two against Gibraltar. Shane Long also scored after replacing the veteran and he possesses the speed, mobility and aerial power that Keane does not, but the LA Galaxy striker’s goalscoring instincts remain sharper than anyone else in the Irish squad. O’Neill hinted that, with Georgia likely to sit deep, Long might not get space to run behind defenders, so starting with Keane would make most sense.
Aiden McGeady was the hero when Ireland won 2-1 in Georgia in the first match of the campaign, the Everton winger scoring both goals, but his fortunes have faded since then and James McClean could start out wide if, as expected, O’Neill reverts to a four-man midfield after deploying only three in Gibraltar.
Whoever plays will be under instructions not to grow anxious if the lead does not come quickly. “We really have to be patient,” says O’Neill. “If we don’t score in the first 20 minutes it’s not the end of the world.”
Rep of Ireland (probable) 4-4-2: Given; Coleman, Clark, O’Shea, Brady; Walters, McCarthy, Whelan, McClean; Hoolahan, Keane.
Georgia (probable) 4-5-1: Revishvili; Lobjanidze, Kashia, Kvirkvelia, Navalovski; Amisulashvili, Kazaishvili, Kankava, Ananidze, Okriashvili; Mchedlidze.
Referee Istvan Vad (Hun).
