Georgia: The Euro debutants showing why they fear no one in Germany
The Jvarosnebi (Crusaders) have played with skill and fight- and no side left in Euro 2024 should take them lightly
Before Euro 2024, I wrote a piece about how Georgia got to their first-ever major tournament and how it has been a project long in the making. They sealed a spot in a group alongside Turkey, Czech Republic, and 2016 champions Portugal with a penalty shoot-out win against Greece.
The tournament debutants have taken the Euros by storm, and have booked their place in the last-16. Just like with their qualification for the tournament, this was no fluke. In each game, they showed the fight that teams need to take to these major competitions- and also importantly playing with a confidence that so few new sides play with.
Georgia finished with four points, enough to book a place in the last-16 of the tournament. Their first match ended in a 3–1 defeat, but the result didn’t tell the whole story. Turkey scored two goals of the competition contenders, and Georgia levelled up at 1–1. With The Jvarosnebi pushing for a second goal, Turkey countered and sealed the game with a third goal late on.
Their first-ever point at a major tournament game in the second match against the Czech Republic. Georges Mikautadze tucked away a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but a Patrik Schik strike on the hour mark restricted Georgia to just a point.
On paper, Georgia’s hardest match was their last. Portugal had already won the group and did rest several of their top names. Still, Cristiano Ronaldo was amongst those who started- and he was left very frustrated by a stubborn Georgian display. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored within two minutes, getting Georgia on the front foot in a match they needed to win.
Portugal had their chances, but they came up short against a five-man Georgian defence and a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The assurance of a two-goal cushion was provided through a penalty scored by Mikautadze. The match had a feeling of Portugal playing for several days and not breaking through a brilliant defensive display, and it finished 2–0 to keep this remarkable Georgian football adventure going.
Their reward for qualification to the last 16 is a chance to test themselves against another former European Championship-winning side. Three-time winners Spain are next up for Georgia in Cologne, and it’s fair to say that they will head into the match with no fear. Not to look too far ahead, but a potential quarter-final opponent would be either Denmark or hosts Germany.
Ranked 68th in the world and a nation with a population similar to Birmingham, this is already a hugely successful tournament for Georgia. In comparison, they’ve already gone further than Scotland ever have at any of their 12 major tournament appearances.
Georgia play with a bravery and ability that few tournament debutants bring to the big stage. A good press, tough defence, and a rapid counterattack are three elements why this side continues to impress against nations who are seasoned veterans of the tournament stage.
