Republic of Ireland v Georgia background
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Article summary
Two Aiden McGeady strikes gave the Irish a 2-1 win when they met Georgia in their opening Group D game, with Georgia yet to avoid defeat against their hosts.
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The Republic of Ireland kicked off their Group D campaign with a win in Georgia and will look to make it seven wins out of seven against their guests as the sides reconvene in Dublin.
• The following players are a yellow card away from a ban: Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy, James McClean, Jonathan Walters, Glenn Whealan, Marc Wilson (Ireland), Murtaz Daushvili and Jaba Kankava (Georgia).
Previous meetings
• Two Aiden McGeady strikes gave the Irish a 2-1 win when they met Georgia in their opening Group D game.
• Ireland's record in six games against Georgia is W6 D0 L0 (W3 D0 L0 – W3 D0 L0 away). Those away fixtures include a FIFA World Cup qualifier played on neutral territory in Mainz, Germany, due to the political situation in Georgia at the time.
• The sides' last meeting in Dublin was a friendly on 2 June 2013. Giovanni Trapattoni's side beat Temur Ketsbaia's Georgia 4-0 with goals from Richard Keogh (42), Simon Cox (48) and Robbie Keane (77 88) following the 20th-minute dismissal of Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria. Substitute Keane was making a record-equalling 125th appearance for Ireland.
Form guide
• Both teams go into the game on the back of wins, Ireland defeating Gibraltar 4-0 to move second in the group above Scotland, who lost 1-0 to Georgia. It was Georgia's first competitive home victory in two years.
• Ireland are unbeaten in four qualifying games at home (W2 D2) but have drawn their last two Group D home fixtures 1-1.
• Georgia have won only one of their last 22 competitive away games (W1 D4 L17) – 3-0 against Gibraltar in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying.
Trivia and links
• Georgia coach Kakhaber Tskhadadze turns 47 on the day of the Ireland game.
• In the only UEFA club competition meetings between sides from these nations, FC Dinamo Tbilisi beat Waterford United FC 1-0 away and 4-0 at home in the second round en route to winning the 1980/81 European Cup Winners' Cup.
• Ireland have not won in the nations' eight meetings in UEFA age-group competitions, with the record W0 D6 L2.
