Euro 2024 - Day 5 prediction: Mikautadze can help Georgia make a splash

A first-time qualifier and a recent winner get their group-stage campaigns underway on day five of Euro 2024 with Georgia taking on Turkey and Czech Republic renewing acquaintances with Portugal.

The Black Sea neighbours face off in Dortmund in a game neither dare lose given the greater experience and profile of the other two Group F teams.

Portugal, the champions in 2016, and Czech Republic, the winners back in 1976 as the unified Czechoslovakia nation, have brought squads at different ends of the age spectrum to Germany.

Many of Roberto Martinez’s squad were around eight years ago and they are still set up to supply 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo with goalscoring chances.

The Czech Republic, on the other hand, came into this tournament with the youngest average squad age at 25.3 years old.

TIP 1 - OVER 2.5 GOALS IN TURKEY V GEORGIA @ 23/20

Vincenzo Montella has brought fresh hope to Turkish football after guiding them to the top of a qualifying group that featured 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales.

Turkey’s attacking prowess is clear from the fact that they found the back of the net in seven out of eight qualifiers while they also kept three clean sheets on the road to Germany.

The Crescent-Stars boast a talented group of attackers, led by Galatasaray's Baris Alper Yilmaz, and a wealth of creative midfield options such as Hakan Calhanoglu, Orkun Kokcu, and the gifted teenager Arder Guler.

If Montella unleashes their attacking potential, Turkey could surprise many at Euro 2024 but defensive vulnerabilities remain an issue that arose again in the chastening 6-1 friendly defeat to Austria in March.

Georgia will be desperate to leave a lasting impression during their first major finals appearance, and coach Willy Sagnol could also let the handbrake off here.

The lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Georgia have two genuine world-class talents at opposite ends of the pitch: Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who played a pivotal role in the penalty shoot-out win over Greece, and Napoli’s former Scudetto-winning forward Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Both teams will be aware of the importance of making a strong start and with their strengths lying in the attacking areas, the stage could be set for a few goals. Turkey has seen at least three goals in seven of their last nine matches, while four of Georgia's last seven internationals have gone over the 2.5-goal mark, suggesting an entertaining and high-scoring encounter.

TIP 2 - GEORGES MIKAUTADZE TO SCORE @ 23/5

One of the keys to Georgian success will be converting any opportunities that they create in Germany.

And they now have a centre-forward that looks capable of doing that with French-born Georges Mikautadze enjoying a prolific spell in Ligue 1 last term.

The Ajax striker was sent on loan to Metz after struggling in Amsterdam, but came good in the second half of the campaign with 11 goals in 12 games.

He grabbed his 10th international goal in Georgia’s 3-1 warm-up win over Montenegro earlier this month and already seems to have shaped an understanding with Kvaratskhelia, who slipped him in for the chance which he dinked over the goalkeeper.

TIP 3 - PORTUGAL TO LEAD AT HALF-TIME @ 1/1

Portugal powered through qualifying with a perfect record of 10 wins from 10 games and they will be expected to begin the finals with three points against Czech Republic.

Martinez’s men put the Republic of Ireland to the sword in their latest friendly game, taking the lead after 18 minutes.

They made a habit of getting their noses in front before the break in qualifying too with Portugal ahead by half-time in eight of their 10 fixtures.

With the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto and Bernardo Silva providing the creative spark, there is little wonder Portugal are fancied to make a big splash in the tournament.

They look too incisive for Ivan Hasek’s side to stop with the Czech Republic probably better suited to competing against physical sides than the technicians they will be up against in Leipzig on Tuesday.

Hasek’s team took four points from a well-organised Poland side in qualifying, but fared less well against the nimble, unpredictable Albanians and that will be a concern going into a tough Group F that will see them come up against Georgia, Turkey and Portugal.