Georgia have made it to Euro 2024. Incredible stuff. The expansion of the tournament since 2016 has opened the door some fresh faces to join the party and the Eastern Europeans are the latest debutants having never qualified for a major tournament before.
However, tough task master Willy Sagnol will not be standing around looking for autographs this summer and the Group Stage draw has given his team half a chance. In a squad of wildly long and unknown names, they do have one that jumps out, in Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and his snake hips will lead the Georgian attack.
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MANAGER: Willy Sagnol
CAPTAIN: With 112 caps to his name Guram Kashia is the skipper for Sagnol.
STAR PLAYER: Commentators will be forced to twist and wiggle their tongues as much as the opposition full backs marking Kvaratskhelia in Germany. Sensational for Napoli in their 2023 title win, followed up with a solid enough individual campaign in 2024, and he averages just over a goal per game for Georgia.
HOW THEY GOT THERE: Georgia’s Nations League form snatched a playoff spot and they won the battle of wills in a final penalty shootout against Gus Poyet’s Greece.
HOW WILL THEY DO: Group F should be a breeze for Portugal to win with Turkey impressing enough in qualifying to hint at them grabbing second. Bayer Leverkusen star Patrick Schick can rival Kvaratskhelia as the Czech Republic’s talisman but there is little between the teams as a whole.
BEST BET: A run to the knockouts would be sensational for Georgia in their first showing at the Euros. They are in with the chance of a best third place spot on offer, if they can pick up around four points, in a group with only one shark.
Georgia’s EURO 2024 FIXTURES
Group F
Tuesday, Jun 18: Turkey v Georgia, 5pm (Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund)
Saturday, Jun 22: Georgia v Czech Republic 2pm (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
Wednesday, Jun 26: Georgia v Portugal 8pm (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
Georgia’s EURO 2024 SQUAD
Sagnol has confirmed his 26-man squad for Euro 2024.
- GOALKEEPERS: Giorgi Loria, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Luka Gugeshashvilli.
- DEFENDERS: Guram Kashia, Otar Kakabadze, Solomon Kvirkvelia, Lasha Dvali, Jemal Tabidze, Luka, Lochoshvilli, Giorgi Gocholeishvilli, Giorgi Gvelesiani.
- MIDFIELDERS: Gabriel Sigua, Nika Kvekveskiri, Otar Kiteishvilli, Saba Lobzhanidze, Zuriko Davitashvilli, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Levan Shengelia, Giorgi Tsitaishvili, Anzor Mekvabishvili, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Sandro Altunashvili.
- FORWARDS: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Giorgi Kvilitaia, Budu Zivzivadze, Georges Mikautadze.
Read More on Euro 2024
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- Euro 2024 fixtures, groups and schedule for this summer’s big tournament
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- Predicted England Euro 2024 squad and Paddy Power odds for 23-man group
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