Georgian officials celebrate national football team’s first-ever qualification for European Championship in messages

Georgian officials on Wednesday celebrated the national football team’s first-ever qualification for a major international tournament with the defeat of Greece, to book a spot at the 2024 European Championship, with messages marking the achievement.

In his social media post, Ilia Darchiashvili, the country’s Foreign Minister, congratulated citizens and the team on the “historic win” and said the outcome was a “fair and logical continuation” of the process started with the country being granted the European Union membership candidate status in December.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said the result meant a “dream of generations has come true” and said the country’s “heart held its breath in anticipation of something superior, cherished and glorious”, adding the achievement meant a “history of victories of the country has begun”.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze extended his gratitude to the squad and emphasised the “special importance” of the victory in the playoff final. Kaladze also thanked the fans who he said had “always stood where Georgian football, Georgian sports needed”.

This is what we have been waiting for decades. It is not just winning, it is making history. In the recent history of Georgia, March 26, 2024 has been written with golden letters, because our national team will play at the European Championship”, he said.

Irakli Chikovani, the Minister of Defence, said “history” had been written with the result, and noted the team’s “tireless hard work and the spirit” on the pitch had “demonstrated Georgia will be in Europe”.

Paata Manjgaladze, a member of the Parliament, said Georgia would be able to become a member of the EU “through the kind of unity it achieved for this victory”.

Our boys really did the impossible - they fulfilled the dreams and aspirations of many generations. It is big success on a long road. In fact, the boys managed to make Georgia a de facto member of the European Union with this victory. This should be followed by political victories”, he added.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, congratulated the team on securing a spot at the European Championship, adding the players “wrote a new history, not [just] in sports, but in the love of their country”.

Justice Minister Rati Bregadze also extended his gratitude to the squad on winning the playoff match by saying it had marked a “dream come true”.