Euro 2016 Qualifier preview and odds: Georgia vs. Gibraltar

Published on: 05/10/2015

Euro 2016 Qualifier preview and odds: Georgia vs. Gibraltar

October 8, 2015 17:00pm - Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena - Tbilisi

2016 European Championship Qualifying Group D

The bottom two teams in Group D will meet on Thursday night when Georgia welcome Gibraltar to Tblisi for a game that should have no effect on the final qualification positions.

Gibraltar looking for first points

It could be argued that this game is of little significance to both sides. However, for UEFA newcomers Gibraltar, this Group D match provides another opportunity to register their ever first points as a member nation.

The small team from the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula recorded their best ever result in a competitive environment when they went down 0-3 to the Georgians in the home leg back in October. They will now be hoping to take advantage of an opponent that has little left to play for in this competition.

The Gibraltarians have scored just two competitive goals since become a recognised UEFA members and both of those were scored on the road. In their last qualification match they lost 8-1 in Poland, however, that match that took place during the off-season of their domestic league and the players were obviously lacking match fitness.

Although Georgia can mathematically finish fourth in Group D, it would take a remarkable set of results for that to happen. In reality, the team will just be going through the motions and hoping to avoid embarrassment against the minnows of their group. Their 1-0 victory against Scotland back in September was their only home win in the competition and only their second victory overall.

Team news

Georgia Coach Kakhaber Tskhadadze may decide to give game time to some less prominent members of his squad as he prepares for the future, while Jeff Wood is likely to field his strongest XI as his team goes in search of their first ever point on the international stage.

Recent form (Euro qualifying)

Georgia: LWLLLW

Gibraltar: LLLLLL

Betting odds and tips

The bookies are not expecting anything other than a home win and rightly so even a draw would be an unprecedented result on the European stage. However, betting on the home win will not get you any value at all. Georgia have little to play for and do have a poor home record, so punters who like a speculative bet may be interested in placing a small stake on the draw at 15/1 with 888sport.

One bet that does catch the eye is the Both Teams to Score option at 12/5 with Ladbrokes. Gibraltar have already scored twice in four games on the road with goals in Scotland and Poland and could take advantage of a Georgian team lacking in competitive urgency.

Published on: 05/10/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (05/10/2015 10:46:09) but are subject to change.