Cuper: 'We should be in Tbilisi'

Georgia boss Hector Cuper has insisted his adopted country’s World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland could have been played in Tbilisi.

The game, which will take place at the neutral venue of Mainz’s Bruchweg Stadium tomorrow night, was initially scheduled to be played in the Georgian capital.

However, amid concerns expressed by the Football Association of Ireland in the wake of the ongoing political unrest in Georgia, the match was switched to Germany.

Having to surrender home advantage has not gone down well with the Georgians, and their Argentinian coach is adamant the game could have gone ahead as planned on home turf.

Speaking before training with his players at the Bruchweg Stadium this morning, Cuper said: “It was really possible to hold this game in Tbilisi. It would not have been a problem.”

Asked about the FAI’s role in lobbying for the game to be moved, Cuper replied: “I really don’t know what they were thinking about and what they were trying to achieve.

“But I still think it was absolutely possible to play in Tbilisi.”

FIFA ordered the Georgian Football Federation to come up with an alternative venue should the situation in the country persist, and eventually ruled that the tie must be moved.

GFF spokesman Alexander Tsnobiladze said: “In Tbilisi, it would have been an opportunity for Georgian people to unite.”

Georgia opted for Mainz – venues in Austria and Ukraine were also considered - partly because of the sizeable ex-patriot community in Germany, which includes several of their players, among them Schalke midfield duo Levan Kenia and Levan Kobiashvili and Karlsruhe striker Alexander Iashvili.

Cuper said: “The Football Federation evaluated two or three options, but we know there are a lot of Georgians in Germany, so that was important.”

Ireland are expected to have around 5,000 fans at tomorrow night’s game, with the Georgians having allocated around half that number of tickets to their own travelling contingent.

The stadium has a capacity of around 20,000, but only 10,000 seats, and only those parts of the ground will be used.

But whatever the distribution of support, Cuper has ordered his players to put any sense of injustice out of their minds.

He said: “Of course, this is a very interesting fact that we cannot play in Tbilisi on our own field, but the decision has been already made and we have to accept it.

“We cannot begin crying now. Of course, it is a pity because the support of the people is very important to us.

“But still we have to believe in this team, we have to believe in our capacities. We have to continue working and believe in ourselves.”

Former Real Mallorca, Valencia and Inter Milan boss Cuper is likely to make a series of changes to the side which beat Wales 2-1 in Swansea last month, with AC Milan defender Kakha Kaladze among those expected to return.

However, he will head into the game knowing Ireland have been prepared by another vastly experienced coach in the shape of Giovanni Trapattoni, and Cuper has left his players in little doubt as to what lies ahead of them.

He said: “The first thing I know is that they have a head coach with big experience. This is a coach who has achieved a lot in his career.

“This is a very strong national team, especially physically and especially when they are playing in defence.

“They run and move the ball very quickly, and they have players playing in strong teams in a strong league in England – Manchester United, Liverpool and Blackburn and so on.

“They have a very dangerous striker in Robbie Keane, so we will play against a very strong opponent.

“But nevertheless, Georgia will play a very good game, I am sure, and will have chances to win.”