– We are Georgia, not a team full of players who play in the biggest clubs in the world. We have one, maybe two such players. If we want to win, the most important value must be the team, team thinking. Only together can we achieve everything. Without this we will achieve nothing – These are the words with which the coach of the Georgian national team characterized his team in an interview with Sport.pl in May.
Georgians are once again delighting the world. Pogrom
He was the first coach in history to take the national team to a major tournament. Georgia did not bring shame to Euro 2024. They lost to Turkey 1:3, drew with the Czech Republic 1:1, and advanced from the group by defeating Portugal 2:0. In the 1/8 finals, they even took the lead in the match against Spain, and although they ultimately learned a football lesson from the future European champions, they were remembered as the revelation of the championship.
It's no wonder. Giorgi Mamardashvili was mentioned as one of the best goalkeepers of the tournament, and Georges Mikautadze was the top scorer of the event. Georgian football seems to be moving forward, and the first match of the new edition of the Nations League may be a confirmation of this.
On Saturday afternoon, Sagnol's team faced their old friends from Euro 2024 – the Czech Republic. No one could have predicted such a turn of events. Already in the 33rd minute, Chwicza Kwaracchelia successfully took a penalty, and the second half of the match was a real show of the Georgians. In 13 minutes, they scored three goals and at one point were leading 4:0.
In the end, substitute Lukas Kalvach reduced the size of the defeat, which is already a big mistake from the Czech perspective. It is the Czechs' worst defeat since September 24, 2022, when they lost 0-4 – also in the Nations League – to Portugal.
Georgia 4:1 Czech Republic (1:0)
Goals: 33. Khvicha Kwaracchelia'33k, Giorgi Chakwetdze'53, Georges Mikautadze'63, Giorgi Kochorashvili'66 – Lukas Kalvach'80
Georgia: Mamardashvili (gk) – Gvelesiani (88'Goglicidze), Kashia, Dwali – Kakabadze – Gvelesiani (88'Goglicidze), Kashia (k), Dvali – Kakabadze (75'Goczoleshvili), Chakvetadze (75'Davitashvili), Kochoravshvili, Kiteishvili (75'Nonikashvili), Locosshvili – Mikautadze (75'Zivzivadze), Kvaracchelia
coach: Willy Sagnol
Czech Republic: Kovar (gk) – Zima, Hranac, Krejci – Coufal, Soucek (k), Kral (46'Kalvach), Rynes (26'Zeleny) – Provod (76'Sulc), Cvancara (46'Lingr) – Schick ( 68'Hlozek)
coach: Ivan Hasek