NEW DELHI: Georgia secured their passage to the knockout stages in what is their inaugural appearance at the European Championship. They achieved this feat by defeating Portugal, a team that previously won the Eruo, with a scoreline of 2-0.
The victory was primarily orchestrated through an early goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a penalty converted by Georges Mikautadze. Despite facing a Portugal side that fielded many of their reserve players, having already qualified for the next round, this triumph is considered Georgia's most significant achievement since gaining independence in 1991.
Georgia's journey to Euro 2024 was not straightforward. After finishing fourth in their qualifying group, they had to navigate through the Euro Nations tournament, where they topped their group before overcoming Greece in a playoff.
This backdrop makes their group stage performance and progression to the knockout rounds even more commendable. Under the guidance of Coach Willy Sagnol, a former defender for Bayern Munich and France, Georgia not only advanced but also secured a third-place finish in Group F, setting up a last-16 clash with Spain, a team that has won the Euro tournament three times.
The implications of Georgia's victory extend beyond their own achievements. It has also determined the matchups for other teams in the round of 16, with England facing Slovakia, Romania taking on the Netherlands, and Portugal meeting Slovenia. Hungary, who were contenders for advancement, were ultimately eliminated.
Georgia's assertive start in the match was highlighted by Kvaratskhelia's goal in the second minute, following a mistake from Portugal's Antonio Silva. Cristiano Ronaldo, despite his efforts and the historical significance of potentially becoming the oldest goal-scorer in Euro tournament history, could not influence the game's outcome.
Georgia's defence remained impenetrable, effectively neutralizing Portugal's attempts to score, and their strategy to exploit counter-attacking opportunities was further validated when Silva's foul led to a penalty, confirmed after a VAR review. Mikautadze's successful penalty not only secured the win but also made him the tournament's leading scorer at that point.
The match saw Ronaldo, visibly frustrated, receive a booking for dissent and later express his disappointment by kicking a water bottle following his substitution. Georgia's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili played a crucial role in the final moments to preserve the lead, culminating in jubilant celebrations from the Georgian players and coaching staff at the final whistle, witnessed by thousands of their supporters.