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Rob Dawson, Correspondent
COLOGNE, Germany — On the finish of FC Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion housing the 1000’s of Georgia followers for his or her first-ever match knockout recreation, there was an indication behind the objective which learn: “Imagine.” Georgia have accomplished simply that from the second they arrived at Euro 2024, however for 20 wonderful minutes in opposition to Spain within the spherical of 16, they have been considering one thing past even their wildest goals.
Robin Le Normand‘s personal objective prompted a roar that this Euros will do properly to match and, briefly, the small jap European nation have been on the right track to attain what would have been one of many greatest upsets this competitors has ever seen. Or no less than the most important upset since they beat Portugal 4 days earlier.
It has been that sort of journey for Georgia.
🇬🇪 A match to be pleased with 👏#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/aPxJD0gWyX
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 30, 2024
They turned up because the lowest ranked staff in keeping with FIFA’s standings, however fairly than simply benefit from the expertise of a primary main worldwide match, supervisor Willy Sagnol and his gamers have scared the life out of everybody they’ve confronted. They go away Germany with a file of 1 win, one draw and two defeats, however every staff they’ve performed — Turkey, Czechia, Portugal and Spain — have been, on the very least, left with a bloody nostril.
In the long run, Spain proved simply that little bit too good, though it is value remembering that once they met in qualifying in September, Georgia have been demolished 7-1.
An unbiased nation for under 33 years and with a inhabitants of round 3.5 million — just like Utah — that is the kind of hammering Georgia maybe needs to be getting in opposition to groups with the historical past and expertise pool of Spain. As a substitute, they went toe-to-toe, after which some.
The Georgia followers fortunate sufficient to get a ticket in Cologne and the tens of millions watching at residence will quickly neglect that Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo scored the targets which finally knocked them out. They’ll bear in mind Euro 2024, these gamers, the targets, and people 20 exhilarating minutes in opposition to Spain without end.
“Generally it’s important to take the time to sit down and take a look at what you may have accomplished,” mentioned Sagnol. “We will sit in peace and quiet and be very pleased with the final 12 months. The evolution of the staff has been implausible. I am very pleased with that and pleased with what the gamers have accomplished.
“It’s going to take some days to grasp as a result of it was such a fan efficiency. We really feel a bit unhappy as a result of we misplaced however I am positive in some days we’ll realise what now we have accomplished and the happiness will come again in a short time.”
Georgia have been unapologetically themselves at these Euros and their video games have been thrilling, entertaining and, at instances, pure chaos. There is no excessive press on the sting of the opposition penalty space or a thought to maintain the ball for so long as they will. They run and chase and defend and once they leap on a chance to take possession, they fly headlong in the direction of the opponent’s objective.
Spain received 4-1 however their coach, Luis de la Fuente, was fast to hail Georgia as “the most effective groups in transition on this planet.” Winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia determined to begin one group recreation by accumulating the ball and sprinting as quick as he might at Czechia’s defence. Shedding 2-1 to Turkey, Sagnol despatched up goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for a final minute nook and when it led to a 3rd Turkey objective mentioned he did not care as a result of “shedding 2-1 is similar as shedding 3-1.”
Sagnol promised earlier than the group stage that he hadn’t come to Germany “for a procuring journey” and meant to point out everybody what soccer in Georgia is all about. He has succeeded and helped win new followers alongside the way in which.
In amongst all of it, Mamardashvili has flung himself round like Spiderman in vibrant inexperienced, there have been bulldozing challenges from Guram Kashia and Georges Mikautadze has scampered round up entrance like a bulldog chasing a squirrel.
Each time Kvaratskhelia received the ball, the noise contained in the stadium cranked up a notch and reporters sporting Georgia shirts within the media tribune would frantically beat the desks with their fists in anticipation. At one level in opposition to Spain, Kvaratskhelia tried to attain from his personal half, as a result of why not?
Typically play would cease with our bodies from each groups strewn all around the pitch, both damage in thunderous tackles or just exhausted from the tempo of the sport. There have been pictures, corners, saves, penalties, yellow playing cards, last-ditch tackles, gaps the place there should not be and Georgia assaults which flash from one finish of the pitch to the opposite.
Volunteers sporting yellow bibs have needed to clear beer cups from the pitch when all of it received an excessive amount of for the supporters within the stands. After lastly bowing out to Spain, the Georgia gamers and workers stood within the Cologne rain and took half in a “thunder clap” celebration with their followers to the beat of a person with a drum within the crowd. Scarves have been thrown onto the pitch and picked up by gamers who blew kisses again.
At residence, there’s political rigidity after a brand new legislation handed by parliament in Could declared media and NGOs as “overseas brokers” in the event that they obtain greater than 20% of their funding from overseas. It has prompted protests and violence within the capital Tbilisi and the efficiency of the nationwide staff greater than 2,000 miles away in Germany has offered welcome reduction.
With eight of the squad aged 23 or below, there’s hope for the way forward for Georgian soccer that their journey right here is not going to be a one-off and as an alternative, worldwide tournaments will change into the norm.
“We labored so onerous to get right here and when everybody realises what now we have accomplished collectively we’ll attempt our greatest to return again,” mentioned Sagnol.
“Enjoying in opposition to the very best groups, the very best gamers and to present the Georgian followers the possibility to return right here and sing the nationwide anthem within the stadiums is a superb factor. Tomorrow morning, everybody will need only one factor, to return again. It is the tip of the journey however I am positive the following one can even be very thrilling.”
If it is something like their journey at Euro 2024, it will likely be properly value watching.