Berlin, June 26 (EUROPA PRESS) – The Georgian group beat Portugal (2-0) this Wednesday on the final day of Group F of the Euro 2024 that’s being performed in Germany, sealing a historic go to the spherical of 16 , the place they are going to be measured on Sunday in opposition to Spain.
For the primary time in a continental event, the Georgian group additionally savoured their first victory in opposition to a favorite. Portugal had nothing to play for on the Veltins Enviornment in Gelsenkirchen, with their ticket already secured in addition to first place, and the urgency gave Willy Sagnol’s males an additional enhance.
With clear concepts, a really vertical counterattack between Mikautadze and Kvaratskhelia, and with good probabilities, Georgia took a deserved victory that, with Turkey’s victory within the different match in opposition to the Czech Republic, makes them the following rival of Spain, first and undefeated in Group B. Portugal, who additionally suffered from the rotation and suffered their first defeat in an official match since December 2022, will face Slovenia within the spherical of 16.
Two minutes later, Georgia confirmed its hazard, with the reward of Antonio Silva and the counter that culminated in Kvaratskhelia, a Naples participant who’s on the lips of many for his attainable change of surroundings this summer season. It was troublesome for Roberto Martínez’s males to cease the stream of quick assaults from the rival, with some possession, after which it was not straightforward for them to tempo themselves and discover probabilities.
These from Sagnol defended themselves equally forcefully. A direct foul by Cristiano Ronaldo examined Mamardashvili and the Al-Nassr ahead unsuccessfully claimed a penalty for grabbing and obtained yellow on prime of that. Joao Félix gave sparks of pleasure to the Portuguese however Georgia had the warning from him with an nearly headbutt from Gvelesiani.
After the break, Ronaldo was determined to get near scoring, at all times with some opposing defender blocking his shot, and near the hour mark Georgia made it 2-0, with a penalty reviewed by VAR and transformed by Mikautadze, the event’s prime scorer. Martínez made some strikes on the Portuguese bench however his group’s possession didn’t acquire momentum and Georgia had been those who monopolised the hazard.
Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze had been a nightmare, whereas the entry of reinforcements, though they saved Bruno Fernandes or Bernardo Silva, didn’t change the face of a Portugal that threw away a part of its good emotions up to now within the event regardless of the ultimate arrears that bumped into Mamardashvili. Georgian soccer made historical past and left a severe warning for Spain, though they already ‘know’ one another from the qualifying section with good Spanish recollections.
DATASHEET:
–RESULT: GEORGIA, 2 – PORTUGAL, 0. (1-0, at half-time).
–ALIGNMENTS:
GEORGIA: Mamardashvili; Kakabadze, Gvelesiani (Kverkvelia, min.76), Kashia, Lochoshvili (Tsitaishvili, min.63), Dvali; Kochorashvili, Kiteishvili, Chakvetadze (Mekvabishvili, min.81); Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia (Davitashvili, min.81).
PORTUGAL: Diogo Costa; Dalot, Danilo, Silva (Semedo, min.66), Inácio; Palhinha (Ruben Neves, relaxation), Joao Neves (Nunes, min.75), Neto (Jota, min.75); Conceição, Joao Félix; Ronaldo (Ramos, min.66).
–GOALS:
1 – 0, min.2, Kvaratskhelia.
2 – 0, min.57, Mikautadze (penalti).
–REFEREE: Sandro Schärer (SUI). He cautioned Mekvabishvili (min.85) for Georgia. And Ronaldo (min.28), Neto (min.44) and Ruben Neves (min.53) for Portugal.
–STADIUM: Veltins Enviornment (Gelsenkirchen).
