Georgia haven’t made things easy in their recent games against Ireland and having derailed Scotland’s Euro 2016 hopes, Saturday’s opponent’s feel they’re due something against the Boys in Green. Alastair Watt answers some of our questions from Tbilisi as the Republic’s World Cup bid hits crunch time.
Photographer Denis Vahey brilliantly captures the matchday atmosphere at Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia in Dublin.
Georgia made life difficult for Austria in their opening World Cup qualifying game and are showing signs of improvement under a new coach. Alastair Watt gives us the inside view from Thursday’s visitors to Dublin.
Upside down or right side up depending on who you support, Dublin design practice It’s Okay, have produced an amazing design in the latest in our ongoing Póg Mo Goal World Cup 2018 Poster Series.
John O’Shea and Johnny Sexton chat about everything from Fergie to bungee jumping in the nip.
Vienna based design collective Ruckspiel made up of are LWZ, Typisch Beton and Zwupp, have produced an amazing design for the upcoming Ireland V Georgia game in the Aviva stadium. Inspired by the flags, the crests, the jerseys and more, the intricate production is the next installment in our ongoing Euro 2016 Matchday Poster series.
Irish supporters never made it to Tbilisi when the Republic faced Georgia under Giovanni Trapatonni. Political instability moved the World Cup qualifier to Mainz, Germany. Last weekend, as the green jerseys touched down beneath the Caucuses Mountains, Tbilisi-based Mory Cunningham wondered if it was just another away match location or if the fans felt further East in this still emerging nation of stark contrasts?
For Georgia, football’s place as the number one sport in the country has come under threat as other sports, namely rugby and basketball, bring the country’s patriotic fans considerably more joy than the cycle of false dawns and disappointments in which Georgian football has long been mired, writes Alastair Watt.
The draw for Euro 2016 has paired Ireland and Scotland together for the first time since 1986, and while the Irish are placed in Group D as second seeds, with Germany already installed as favourites for the tournament, and Poland and the Scots involved, new boss Martin O’Neill would have wished for a far easier road to France.
From scoring against England at Wembley to taking hold of the captain’s armband, it’s been quite a week for Shane Long. Giovanni Trapattoni has named the Irish team to face Georgia with Wes Hoolahan earning his first start in an intriguing midfield pairing with James McCarthy. Richard Dunne will also feature at some stage.