Georgian PM highlights football team’s “historic victory” over Greece for Euro 2024 qualification

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday highlighted the “historic victory” of the national football team over Greece, after the squad qualified for a major tournament for the first time in its history with a spot at the upcoming European Championship.

“Thirty years ago, the history of our national team began, and on the 30th anniversary we were able to qualify for the first time for a major tournament - the European Championship - which is, of course, a matter of special pride”, Kobakhidze said.

Today we have a special, emotional day and, accordingly, a special [Government] session. I want to congratulate everyone on yesterday's historic victory, historic success. I congratulate everyone - our fellow citizens, our emigrants and most importantly, naturally our football players - on this victory”, he continued.

Kobakhidze also congratulated retired players from the memorable 1981 European Cup Winners' Cup-winning game - in which Dinamo Tbilisi defeated Carl Zeiss Jena to mark the greatest highlight for Georgian football before the independence era - with the latest achievement of the domestic sport.

The Government head revealed the 26 players of the national team who had been called up for the final qualifying matches, their entire coaching staff and management of the national Football Federation would be awarded the Medal of Honour state prize.

Kobakhidze and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday nominated the players and staff to be awarded the prize by the country’s President.