Martin O’Neill, head coach of Irish national team, said at the press conference, before the match against Georgia, that Germany is a favorite of D group, and Scotland, Ireland, Georgia and Poland will fight for the second-third places.

-I am sure that the start of the official matches makes you happy...

Martin O’Neill: “We are preparing for a long time. I and Roy Keane started to work for the team last November.

-Do you know who will play tomorrow?

-Yes, I know.

-Shay Given is back to the team. New football players are on other positions, you have to make decision about who will play...

-I know who will play, but I have not told to football players yet.

-Probably, you saw the matches of Georgian team and from who do you expect difficulties?

-Of course, we watched several games. We know that Georgia has young and talented players. Georgia played very well against France. Georgia has 3-4 strong players and I will not name them. It depends on us how we play.

-Are you satisfied by the start of qualifying circle in Tbilisi and calendar?

-Before it happened so that the representatives of the teams met and discussed calendar. Now, this issue is decided by a computer. Regardless of where you hold the first match, everyone meets each other twice in the group and accordingly have equal chances.

-This is the first official game for you. Do you have a different feeling compared to what it was before?

-This is the first official match for me. As I imagine, I will have the same feeling as I had while being footballer or training various clubs. It is important match, I will be tense.

Robbie Keane, who attended press conference, said that he specially waits for the next match:

“I was waiting for this match. Friendly matches are very good, but everybody wants to participate in the official matches. We prepared very good during last week”.

-The fact that Keane sits next to coach before the game, does this mean that he shows up on the field and captain the team?

Martin O’Neill: “Robbie Keane is a captain of the team. I repeat once again, that I have not told players who will play. Press conference is not a place, where we can speak about such issues.

-Why have not you told them and when do you plan to do it?

-I have such method, that I do not name composition a few days before the match. This is not psychologically good for players. In such cases, they may not prepare properly. If somebody gets trauma, as it happened in the case of McLain, his successor may not be fully prepared. I name the composition a day before the game or on the match day.

-Can Given play?

-Yes, he is physically ready, but I do not know if he plays.

-It happened so that during the previous coach Ireland won the first official match over Georgia away, what will be the impact of this factor?

Robbie Keane: In general, it is important to start the qualifying stage by victory. This will impact positively on the team in future. No matter whether you plat at home or away, main is to earn points.

-Do you think that the World Championship 2018 should be hold in Russia?

Ireland team’s press attaché explained that they would refrain from answering this question.

-In 2008, due to the events happened in Georgia, the country’s national team hold the home match against Ireland in the German city of Mainz.

Martin O’Neill: The fact that the match did not take place in Georgia was not a fault of the Irish team. I arrived in Georgia for the first time and I am glad that we have to hold the match here.

-You have already played at big tournaments 2 times and have you shared your experience to the young players?

Robbie Keane: So far, the Irish team passed through the big tournaments by playoffs, which is always more difficult. The fact that 2 teams make through to the final stage for the first time, this is a motivation for us. The Irish team has experienced players, for example Aiden McGeady. In our team, we have a combination of experienced and young players.

-What do you think about the statement of Ketsbaia. He said that the Georgian team plays more beautiful football and how would you assess the chances?

-What he said is his personal opinion. However, this did not disturb me. As for the chances, Germany is the group’s leader, Scotland, Ireland, Georgia and Poland will fight for the second-third places. Gibraltar will find it difficult to engage in this battle. The qualifying tournament will be tense.

Lasha Tabagari