Georgia all set for homecoming

WORLD CUP 2010 Qualifying: Georgia v Cyprus Tblisi 5.30pm: FIFA PRESIDENT Sepp Blatter will join Georgia fans in Tbilisi today to see their national team return home to take on Cyprus.

Fifa ordered Georgia to kick off their qualifying campaign with a home match against Ireland in the neutral German city of Mainz last month. Tbilisi was judged too dangerous in the aftermath of conflict with neighbouring Russia.

Cyprus coach Angelos Anastasiadis has described today's qualifier as "very crucial", with his team aiming to follow in the footsteps of club side Anorthosis Famagusta - who became the first team from Cyprus to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League - and qualify for a major international competition.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times