Zhordania takes responsibility

'Full responsibility'
The 42-year-old replaces Croatian coach Ivan Šušak, who resigned to concentrate on his work with FC Dinamo Tbilisi. "In this current difficult situation, the federation and I personally take all responsibility for the results of the national team until the end of the current campaign," said Zhordania. "Revaz Arveladze, Mikhail Kavelashvili and Temuri Ketsbaia have agreed to act as my assistants."

'Outside chance'
Georgia currently lie bottom of qualifying Group 10 with four points from five matches. "There is still a negligible chance to qualify for EURO 2004, and we will fight until the end," Zhordania said. "It is not impossible that the fate of the second place in our group will be decided in our game against Russia in Moscow in October."

Playing success
Zhordania, who said the GFF intended to appoint a foreign coach for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament, played for Dinamo and FC Torpedo Kutaisi among others. He became Dinamo president in 1992, a role he assumed with the GFF in 1998.

Russian trip
Georgia face Albania home and away in early September, and end their EURO 2004™ qualifying bid with that visit to Russia on 11 October.