Georgia, co-organizer of the tournament with Romania, and one of its little Thumbs, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euro hopes of 2023, taking the lead in group A, after their draw 1-1 against the Netherlands. For its first participation in a Euro hopes, Georgia is ahead of Portugal, also qualified, which it had beaten in the opening match 2-0. This is the first time since 2009 and an edition in Sweden that the host country has reached the final stages.
Portugal, one of the favorites, did not go far from elimination after their inaugural defeat and a draw against the Netherlands (1-1), but a late penalty, converted by Tiago Dantas, saw them allowed to beat Belgium in extremis (2-1) and thus to snatch its qualification. The Netherlands, semi-finalists of the previous edition, and Belgium, which has not won a Euro hopes meeting for 15 years, are eliminated.
