Georgia will journey to Germany for Euro 2024 marking their inaugural appearance in a major competition. The Crusaders are the only team making their debut in the tournament this edition and are the 36th different team to participate in the contest. Managed by Willy Sagnol, the team wants to offer more surprises with the talent in store and hopes to build on their progress over the years with a bright Euro showing. Georgia will face a challenge of different magnitude as they compete against Turkey, Czech Republic and 2016 winners Portugal for a dream place in the knockouts.
Qualification to Euro 2024
Georgia had to come through the Euro qualifiers playoffs to reach the finals having finished only fourth in their main qualifiers group behind winners Spain, Scotland and Norway. The team managed just eight points from eight games, winning only against bottom-placed Cyprus.
However, their Nations League performance kept their chances alive as they faced Luxembourg in the playoffs semifinal in March. In front of home fans, Budu Zivzivadze scored a memorable brace to set the decider against Greece. After a scoreless 120 minutes in the final, midfielder Nika Kvekveskiri scored the winning penalty to create history for Georgia and its fans to storm on the pitch at Tbilisi to get close to their heroes.
Form and Preparation for Euro 2024
The form graph of Georgia has been decent as they suffered only one defeat, against Spain, in their last six games. Except for facing the big guns in that period, Willy Sagnol’s team kept a clean sheet in four such matches. They failed to score only twice since March last year. Georgia has planned just one friendly ahead of Euro 2024 with Montenegro to face in an away game on 10th June 2024.
Georgia squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Giorgi Loria (Dinamo Tbilisi), Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia), Luka Gugeshashvili (Qarabağ)
Defenders: Otar Kakabadze (Cracovia), Lasha Dvali (APOEL), Guram Kashia (Slovan Bratislava), Solomon Kvirkvelia (Al-Okhdood), Giorgi Gocholeishvili (Valencia), Luka Lochoshvili (Cremonese), Giorgi Gvelesiani (Persepolis), Jemal Tabidze (Panetolikos)
Midfielders: Giorgi Kochorashvili (Levante), Zuriko Davitashvili (Bordeaux), Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford), Nika Kvekveskiri (Lech Poznań), Otar Kiteishvili (Sturm Graz), Saba Lobzhanidze (Atlanta United), Levan Shengelia (Panetolikos), Gabriel Sigua (Basel), Giorgi Tsitaishvili (Dinamo Batumi), Sandro Altunashvili (Wolfsberger AC), Anzor Mekvabishvili (Universitatea Craiova)
Forwards: Giorgi Kvilitaia (APOEL), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Budu Zivzivadze (Karlsruher SC), Georges Mikautadze (Metz)
Captain: Guram Kashia
Georgia has turned itself into a pool of talent with its greatest product so far being Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. While the left winger’s class will be crucial for them to create memories in the Euros, other stars will have to step up for the team. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is the next big name coming up with top European clubs keeping the Valencia keeper under the radar. The shot-stopper hopes to be at his best between the sticks and come up with match-defining saves when needed. 38-year-old Jaba Kankava was part of the main squad but he has decided to leave the team with twice-capped Gabriel Sigua called in for his replacement.
Star Player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The 23-year-old fame shot up when he won the historical Scudetto for Napoli in his debut season with the club and took them to the quarterfinal of the Champions League for the first time. His skilful footwork, ability to outwit defenders and scoring spectacular goals captivated the football world. Likewise, the nickname ‘Kvaradona’ was given after the football legend Diego Maradona. Kvaratskhelia also demonstrated his prowess at the international level, playing a key role in helping his country qualify for its first-ever Euro tournament. Georgia’s hero is now willing to show his class in the finals to take his team to greater heights.
Manager: Willy Sagnol
A well-known name in French football, Willy Sagnol had the important task of leading a Georgian team with growing prominence in world football to a major competition. He was appointed as the manager in February 2021 and the dream began. After failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, Georgia needed a strong show in the Nations League with the Euro 2024 in mind. Under Sagnol, the Crusaders achieved a stunning result by earning promotion to League B as group winners allowing them to enter the playoffs after direct entry to the finals did not materialize. Georgia reached their objective with the help of their manager helping them to script history on 26 March 2024.
Formation: How will the Georgia Lineup at Euro 2024?
Georgia Fixtures for Euro 2024
Tuesday, 18 June 2024
Turkey vs Georgia - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund (21:30)
Friday, 21 June 2024
Georgia vs Czech Republic - Volksparkstadion, Hamburg (18:30)
Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Georgia vs Portugal - Veltins - Arena, Gelsenkirchen (00:30)
