Ireland must rewrite script

EVEN Robbie Keane admitted yesterday that we’re probably all a bit weary at this stage about the constant flashbacks to Ireland’s night of shame here in Nicosia three years ago.

But as tonight’s kick-off approaches in a game the outcome of which is crucial for Ireland’s World Cup qualification ambitions, it’s worth reminding ourselves that the visitors returning to the GSP stadium must do more than simply ensure that history does not repeat itself.

They must also create a little piece of fresh history for themselves as they go in search of victory on an opponent’s home turf for the first time in this World Cup Group 8 campaign. Of course, Ireland already have one away win under their belts, but that came at the expense of a Georgian side forced to play a long way from Tblisi. Unbeaten in their own capital in the group, the Georgians tonight play host there to Italy and even Giovanni Trapattoni does not dismiss out of hand the notion that it’s a game in which the group leaders could plausibly drop points.