The sound and the glory, which somehow offers England hope of glory. Georgia literally paved the way to the round of 16, after a first tournament qualification with a first knockout stage qualification, following an important 2-0 victory over Portugal.
The raucous roving support made it seem like the entire population was here. The return of proper crowds ensured that the deafening noise was a rousing theme of Euro 2024, and Georgia increased by a few decibels. This may have been the peak. It was certainly a high point in the country’s history, and this national moment may also have given England a moment that could yet have a significant impact on their tournament. This result ensured that Gareth Southgate’s team would face Slovakia and not the Netherlands, in a campaign that now looks even more forgiving until the final.
The coach can, of course, just point to results like Portugal’s, and the composition of the round of 16 itself, and explain why no one should be complacent about facing Slovakia. This tournament has had more surprises than expected, in part because there are few truly elite teams. It gave rising teams like Georgia a real opportunity if they are willing to take it, as they have done more than here. In fact, they seized on it with enthusiasm, as witnessed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s thrilling goal just after the minute.
Georgia enjoyed a moment that she will remember forever, while António Silva endured two that he will immediately want to forget. This is where another tournament theme influenced the game. The 24-team nature means that qualification is guaranteed early, meaning this was yet another game in which a more successful national team could eliminate their second team. This has been a factor that distorts all of this.
Not that Georgia minded. They were so focused on what was needed. Portugal was not.
Not needing to be as sharp as in the first two games, Antonio Silva started this one with as lazy a pass as possible. The ball was played into an open space in the Portuguese half, allowing Georges Mikautadze to run into it. From then on it was all in a straight line, straight to the goal. Mikautadze passed the ball to Kvaratshkelia. The Napoli striker was never missing. He drove the ball elegantly but precisely into the back of the net.
It combined with the luxurious Georgian attack. Their attackers are so good at looking languid and like they’re sitting on the ball, but they change pace suddenly.
It’s a perception that is only deepened by the fact that half of their outfield players have their socks rolled up, the main one being Kvaratshkelia. There is freedom in his attacks, although the image is offset by the ferocity of his game.
That has been another trend in these final group games, as teams that rarely qualify realize how close they are to history. This could be witnessed in Giorgi Mamardashvili’s defenses. This can be seen in the way Giorgi Gvelesiani threw himself at the ball with all his might when Cristiano Ronaldo looked at the goal. There were so many moments like that, although not from Ronaldo.
Georgia was perhaps lucky because there was an insistence on veteran play with an otherwise untried team. There was so much energy in what was generally a good Portuguese attacking display, until it came to Ronaldo. That’s not to say it can’t still be effective, as we’ve seen in this tournament, but it’s as if its use now needs to be moderated, rather than… all the time.
Here, as Portugal built around him, he complained to a teammate for not giving him a chance. This complaint ended up earning Ronaldo a yellow card, and he ended up being replaced for doing little.
At that point, having stood firm and fought to advance every inch, Georgia were leading 2-0. It arose from yet another clumsy moment from Antonio Silva, the kind that reflected a lack of courage. After Georgia had once again managed to free themselves from a relentless Portuguese attack, the ball was passed to Luka Lochoshbili on the edge of the box. After having already made an inexplicable pass, António Silva then inexplicably left one leg exposed. Luchosvili fell and Portugal temporarily rose the other. It resulted in what seemed to be the umpteenth long-range shot that went narrowly wide, this time from Ruben Neves. Although he placed his hands on his head in anguish, that wouldn’t have counted. It might seem like Portugal was getting closer, but the gap was about to get bigger.
VAR reviewed Antonio Silva’s move and a penalty was awarded. Mikautadze stepped forward. The penalty was awarded and the Georgian team celebrated as you see when a team wins a penalty shoot-out – even the substitute goalkeepers ran to jump over the markers.
That’s because it kind of was. They had stormed their way to the round of 16.
The celebrations don’t look like they’re going to end anytime soon. This crowd and players like Kvaratshkelia and Mikautadze promise another event. The sound of the final whistle here, however, will be difficult to match.
