Georgian national football team to face Portugal with chance of Euro 2024 playoff qualification

The Georgian national football team will on Wednesday face Portugal at the ongoing European Championship in Germany needing a win to qualify for the playoff stage of the competition.

The team’s star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Tuesday said he was “dreaming” of facing the Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo in the match and hoped to get his opponent’s shirt after the match.

He added the team still had a “chance to prove that we are not here as tourists and that we can qualify for the playoff stage”.

In his comments, head coach Willy Sagnol said the team had been “unlucky” and “deserved better results” in group stage games based on their performances.

Of course, it will be a very tough game. But psychologically and motivation-wise, we are more motivated than Portugal because Portugal is already through to the round of 16. It doesn't really matter, the names or surnames of football players. We are there to win and this is what we have demonstrated versus Czechia and Turkey”, Sagnol said.

Georgia lost to Turkey in their opening game of Group F and drew with Czechia in the second match.

In his comments on the fixture, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez said the Georgian squad was a “very good team with many talented players”.

On their debut at the major tournament, Georgia have won praise for their playing style by pundits reviewing the competition.