Football fans were plunged into a state of shock this morning. It was all there in black and white – but with a colour pic to brighten things up.

You thought Ireland were playing Georgia tonight at the Aviva Stadium? Well, so did we.

Until, that is, we looked at the RTE website. There, the headline grabbed our attention immediately. It said:

World Cup Qualifier: Moldova v Republic of Ireland (Kick-off 7.45pm) Tonight | RTÉ2 | 7.00pm

Clearly, there had been a change of plans overnight. Presumably, the minnows in Group D had been in receipt of a late night phone-call. “Get on a plane to Ireland quickly,” they were told (maybe). “There’s been a radical change of plan.”

What has happened to the Georgia entourage who have been in Ireland for the past few days is uncertain. Nor is it clear what this dramatic change in opposition is likely to have on Ireland manager Martin O’Neill’s selection plans. Will this make him more or less likely to start James McCarthy ahead of Glenn Whelan? Or might it tempt him to get Wes Hoolahan onto the pitch from the get-go?

That remains to be seen. As indeed does a whole lot more if indeed it is Moldova who turn up at the Aviva tonight.

Watch this space for further dramatic developments...