Georgia surpasses itself at the European Championship in Germany. French coach Willy Sagnol's team achieved one premiere after another.
27.06.2024, 09:11
27.06.2024, 09:51
SDA
Much is said to have been historic in the world of sport in the recent past. Often the classification is exaggerated, often nothing more than surprising, unexpected things have happened. However, the fact that Georgia is currently making history in Germany's stadiums is undisputed.
Georgia at a European Football Championship. That has never happened before. The footballers from the Caucasus region made their way onto the big stage via the Nations League. As group winners in League C, they secured a place in the play-offs. There, they beat Luxembourg and, after a penalty shoot-out, Greece.
In their first participation, they picked up their first point in the second group game thanks to a 1:1 draw against the Czech Republic, followed by a 2:0 win against Portugal on Wednesday evening - and thus qualification for the round of 16 at the first attempt. As if that wasn't enough, the top scorer after the group stage was Georges Mikautadze from Georgia. The Lyon-born striker, who played for relegated Ligue 1 side Metz, was the only player to score three times. Madness! Premiership after premiership - another piece of European Championship history.
The historic feat was achieved by a team of players who are largely unknown quantities in European football. Even the star of the team, Chwitscha Kwarazchelia, who is under contract with Napoli, was not a household name before the European Championships.
More than the names themselves, it is their endings that make them heard. There are no fewer than ten players in the squad with the typical Georgian "-shvili" in the second part of their surname. This somehow fits in with these footballers and their "incredibly good" performances.
The most illustrious name is - or at least has been - that of the coach. Willy Sagnol, once a defender for many years and also interim coach at Bayern Munich for ten days, has been in office for almost three and a half years.
The Frenchman couldn't quite remember his speech before the game against Portugal. The victory, with all its side effects, has also shaken him up. "But I think I said: 'Play your football, stay disciplined'. They did it brilliantly."
Sagnol and his team want to follow the same pattern in the round of 16 against Spain on Saturday. "We will fight until the last minute," said the Frenchman. "When you're one of the 'small' teams, you're aware that you have nothing to lose. Before the tournament, the main thing for us was not to have any regrets at the end. No matter what happens."
They no longer have any regrets. Too much has already happened for Georgia's footballers in Germany. Too much history.
