Georgian officials commend national team’s Euro 2024 performance after exit

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Sunday praised the national football team's performance at the ongoing European Championship in Germany by saying the squad “gave us a fairy tale” with their performances at the tournament, as the team  exited the competition after their 4:1 defeat to Spain in the last 16 knockout round on Sunday.

“I want to thank the guys once again - we thanked them personally - they gave us a fairy tale during this time and gave a great joy and a sense of pride to each of us, thanks guys once again for all this”, Kobakhidze said.

“Everyone knows that Spain is one of the best teams in Europe, if not the best. Therefore, this match was difficult, but the guys gave everything in this game, and all gratitude goes to them. History has been written. For the first time in over 30 years, our team qualified for the European Championship and was among the 16 best teams in Europe at their very first Championship”, he continued.

Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, thanked those who had contributed to the “great victory of Georgian football”.

“It is a victory for me that our national team qualified for the European Championship, it is a victory for me that we qualified among the 16 best teams and showed a good game, we fought to the end against one of the best teams in Europe, the Spanish national team”, he said.

The Government also thanked the national team for the “Georgian miracle” and celebrated the team’s performance at the Championship with fireworks.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, highlighted the national team’s historic achievement.

“Big thanks to Willy Sagnol [Georgia’s head coach], this legendary man - we really should erect a monument to this man in our country - of course, thanks [also] to the [Football] Federation and our fans”, Mdinaradze said.

Irakli Garibashvili, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, commended the team for their performance and thanked them for having played an “honourable” game.

Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani stressed the national team had “written a new page in the history of Georgia and Georgian football”.

“The entire world has seen your fighting spirit, attitude, professionalism and patriotism. Good luck to our praiseworthy team and our country”, the official noted.

The squad qualified for the knockout round of the Championship as the best third-placed team in the group stage, where they finished behind Portugal and Turkey in Group F after defeating the former 2-0 in the final game of the round.

They also lost to Turkey on the opening matchday before drawing with Czechia.