before Georgia, these “small” football countries emerged from the shadows

For Georgia, the feat is historic. By beating Greece on penalties in the play-off match on Tuesday March 26, its national team qualified for the first time for the final phase of a major football tournament, in this case Euro 2024 organized in Germany from June 14 to July 14.

This team, which includes a FC Metz player in its ranks, striker Georges Mikautadze, is coached by former French international Willy Sagnol.

[ ℙ𝕣𝕠 ]

🔝 @MikautadzeG qualified for the@EURO2024 !

👏 𝗨𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗹’𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝗹 𝗮 𝗚𝗲́𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗲! pic.twitter.com/gzvq9nrW8k

— FC Metz ☨ (@FCMetz) March 27, 2024

Before Georgia and its 3.7 million inhabitants, independent since 1991, other “small” football countries had managed to find their way to major competitions. This was the case for Haiti, El Salvador, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for the World Cup, or Palestine for the Asian Cup.

For the European Championship, these qualifications were favored by the evolution of the format of the tournament created in 1960. The number of teams competing in the final phase increased from 8 to 16 teams in 1996, then to 24 in 2016 , a formula which will be retained during the next editions of 2028 and 2032.

► 2004, the Latvian beauty surprise

In 2004, Latvia, which became independent again in 1990, created a sensation by managing to qualify for the Portuguese Euro. Second in its qualifying group behind Sweden, but ahead of Poland and Hungary, the Baltic selection eliminated Turkey in the play-off, third in the 2022 World Cup.

Winners of the Turks in Riga in the first leg (1-0), the Latvians snatched a draw in the return match in Istanbul (2-2) after being led 2-0. During the final phase, they finished 4th and last in their group with two defeats and a draw (against Germany). Since then, Latvia has never had such a celebration again.

► 2016, a breath of fresh air in France

In 2016, 24 teams are competing in the Euro organized by France, 8 more than in 2012. Five countries not particularly known for the exploits of their footballers are taking advantage of this enlargement to discover the final phase: Wales, Slovakia, Iceland, Albania and Northern Ireland.

None of these newcomers will do poorly on French lawns. Albanians and Slovaks win a match each, while the Welsh, Icelanders and Northern Irish pass the first round. More famous for its rugby players, Wales even reached the semi-finals.

The supporters of these “little thumbs” ensure the atmosphere in the stands. Icelandic fans thus promote “clapping”, this collective celebration during which thousands of hands clap in rhythm.

► 2020, North Macedonia emerges from the shadows

In 2020, it was North Macedonia which deprived Georgia of the Euro by beating them in the play-offs. This is the first time that this country resulting from the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, independent since 1991, has managed to qualify for a final phase.

While Euro 2020 is ultimately postponed by a year due to the Covid pandemic, North Macedonia loses all of its matches in the final phase. Since then, the Balkan selection has not appeared in a major tournament. But it knocked Italy out of the 2022 World Cup race.