Goal Scoring Mentality A Must For Ireland Against Georgia

Today the momentum could easily pick up for Ireland's chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ireland host Georgia in Croke Park where a home win will put the Irish level with Italy at the top of Group Eight.  If Ireland can manage to win by more than 2 goals they will in fact slip by the Italians for first place on goal difference.  Ireland's manager Giovanni Trapattoni claimed it was all about points in the bag when they beat Georgia 2-1 back in September 2009.  Trap also admitted the team was disappointed with Georgia's late goal in the 90th minute by Levan Kenia. 

Today we will find out if Ireland can make amends, today we will find out if Ireland has grown.

Anything less than a win is unacceptable but the Irish have fallen apart against minnows in the past.  Such disastrous flops against so-called weaker nations have kept fans in a conservative mood when it comes to qualifying expectations.  Indeed the critics such as John Giles and Eamon Dunphy have lashed Trapattoni and his team for some poor performances and perhaps rightly so.

The opening three games against Georgia, Montenegro and Cyprus, on paper at least, looked like the draw was kind to Ireland, very kind.  Nevertheless because the Irish have made hard work of it so far doubt remains amongst the fans.  However a win today will begin to change the supporters' psyche, and indeed the team's.  Three points will be some boost for everybody concerned.  If the margin is more than 2 goals who knows what may stir.  The green and white army might just rise to march on again. 

Key players in today's game are Robbie Keane and Shay Given.  In the last week both leaders have been through a difficult time after leaving their respective clubs.  While it didn't seem Keane was treated fairly at Liverpool Given certainly did not deserve the cold shoulder treatment at Newcastle United.  The two of them nevertheless got on with their duty as professional players with Given producing a clean sheet for Manchester City while a nervous Keane eventually settled down for Tottenham Hotspur in a 0-0 against Arsenal.

All eyes from the Croker stands will be on this duo, and in the team's dressing room.  How the forward and keeper channel their energy is going to have a huge effect on the team.  Yes they are pros but like you and I they are human too.  They have deeper feelings they need to express, or perhaps vent.  And Croke Park is the best stage in Ireland for athletes to do so.  A Keane strike will do the trick in front of Hill Sixteen while a Given shut out is on the cards. 

Of course the reality of the situation will come to fruition one way or another on March 28 at home to Bulgaria followed rapidly on April 1 away to Italy.  In the space of 5 days the Irish will more or less know their fate for the 2010 World Cup.  Today though there are no ifs or buts in the equation for the Irish are truly in the driving seat.  Should Ireland get their noses in front fans will learn a lot about their team.  Do they sit back and try to secure the 3 points or do they go for the jugular? 

Since the days of Big Jack we haven't seen that killer instinct where winning the ball was paramount.  Where closing down opposition was at all costs.  These are the kinds of strategies though that surface when a team is winning.  Winning breeds confidence and momentum.  The impetus can be with the Irish today if they force the issue. They must not enter the game with apprehension.  Trapattoni has to take the mental journey to the next level and insist on an all out assault on today's opposition. 

Scoring goals has got to be a game plan.  The last thing the Irish want is to look back on the campaign and say they threw it away against Georgia on goal difference.