Forde starts for Ireland

Temuri Ketsbaia got his wish as former Newcastle team-mate Shay Given was named only among the substitutes for the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2016 opener in Georgia.

The Georgia coach had voiced his hope that the 38-year-old goalkeeper would not start because of his quality, and he did not as David Forde got the nod from manager Martin O’Neill at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena.

So too did Stephen Quinn and Jon Walters in a five-man midfield behind lone striker Robbie Keane.

In total, O’Neill made nine changes to the side which beat Oman 2-0 in a midweek friendly, while Ketsbaia fielded nine of the men who started his side’s 4-0 friendly defeat in Dublin in June last year with Solomon Kverkvelia and Tornike Okriashvili the exceptions.

Ireland starting XI: Forde, Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson, Ward, Walters, McCarthy, Whelan, Quinn, McGeady, Keane

Georgia starting XI: Lorla, Lobjanidze, Kverkvella, Kashia, Khubutia, Kankava, Daushvili, Glashvili, Anaidze, Okriashvili, Xvirkvelia