Georgia's national team enjoyed an unprecedented rise in 2024. That year the team qualified for the continental championship for the first time, sensationally beating Greece in the playoff round of the qualifiers. Once at the big tournament, the Georgian side did not shy away from the challenge and, led by its leaders across every line, defeated Portugal in the group stage. Coupled with a draw against the Czech Republic, that was enough to reach the knockout stage. Despite a defeat in the first knockout match against the star-studded Spanish side, the Georgians returned home as national heroes. Many key players of the Georgian squad moved to more prosperous and influential clubs, but from the autumn of 2024 the level of Georgia's performances had fallen to mediocre. In the previous Nations League, under Willy Sagnol's coaching, they had to fight for survival in League B. Finishing third behind the Czech Republic and Ukraine, the Georgians beat Armenia in both matches. Five defeats in six World Cup qualifying matches indicate that much should not be expected from Sagnol's team anymore. Incidentally, in the aforementioned qualifying campaign Georgia conceded zero goals only in the home match against Bulgaria. There may be many reasons for such form of the team. One of the main ones is that opponents prepare for it in a completely different way. Taking into account its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the skills of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose transfer value is higher than that of all the other players in the Georgian national team combined. Northern Ireland in the FIFA rankings sits roughly on the same level as the upcoming opponent. In the previous Nations League this British team played in League C, but finished first in a quartet with Bulgaria, Belarus and Luxembourg. In World Cup qualifying, the Northern Irish again performed well, finishing third in a group with Germany, Slovakia and the same Luxembourg. If you discount Khvicha's transfer value, the Northern Ireland squad is valued roughly at the same level as the upcoming opponent. The visitors will definitely come to Tbilisi for points. Both sides have something to prove, so a goal exchange—i.e., both teams scoring—appears to be a very likely outcome here.