Georgia will be at Euro 2024 in Germany. The first in its history. They eliminated Greece after an agonizing match in Tbilisi, with few chances but a lot of tension. Mamardashvili, Valencia’s goal, saved one of the penalties. Poyet’s Greece, at the doors. He has not attended a European Championship since 2012.
53,000 spectators packed the Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi waiting for a historic day. Georgia was playing against Greece (EURO 2004 champion but absent from the tournament since 2012) to be in a European Championship for the first time in its history. And the first good news was the ‘return’ of Kvaratskhelia, absent in the semi-final against Luxembourg.
And the locals, spurred on by the stands, started strong. High pressure and high intensity. But the game quickly became level and muddy. Few chances, interruptions… and it was Greece that prevailed with a more qualified defense with Tsimikas, Baldock, Mavropanos or Hatzidiakos.
The clearest ones came, however, in the final minutes. And the high tension. Two good set pieces for Georgia… and a brawl as an outcome that left two expulsions: one for each team, but both for members of the bench.
The second part was one of respect… and fear. Nobody wanted to lose. Just one shot on goal in the 90 regulation minutes. Little thing. Tsimikas tried his luck from outside the area, some ride from Kvaratskhelia… but the 0-0 did not move. He was in extra time.
And although it was the section with the most chances of the game… the tie was not broken. Penalties were inevitable. Mamardashvili avoided a 1-0 lead and shortly after, Vlachodimos did the same with a 1-0 lead. Kvaratskhelia, meanwhile, was injured in the final minutes. The time had come for the goalkeepers… and the pitchers.
And there the locals prevailed… and Mamardashvili. The Valencia goalkeeper saved one of the penalties against Bakasetas and Giakoumakis took the decisive shot wide. Kvekveskiri will go down in history as the scorer of the goal that put Georgia in Germany 2024. They will be in Group F with Turkey, Portugal and the Czech Republic.
2024-03-26 19:46:48
#Georgia #Greece #Georgia #history #qualifies #Euro #Cup
