TEAM

GEORGIA

GROUP: F

PLAYER TO WATCH: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

EXPECTED FINISH: Group Stage

Georgia fixtures

Georgia made it to their maiden European Championships despite a dismal qualifying campaign, securing only two wins against 124th-ranked Cyprus. Due to their Nations League performance, they were placed in the play-off qualifiers where they beat Luxembourg and Greece to secure their spot in Germany this summer.

As a result of their play-off victory, the Georgians were placed in Group F alongside Turkey, the Czech Republic and 2016 champions Portugal. They will begin their campaign on 18th June in the group opener at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund against Turkey – a nation they have not faced played since 2012 in an international friendly. Matches against the Czech Republic and Portugal follow to round off the Georgians group stage.

Here are Georgia’s Group F fixtures in full:

Turkey vs Georgia: 18th June (BVB Stadion)
Georgia vs Czech Republic: 22nd June (Volksparkstadion)
Georgia vs Portugal: 26th June (Arena AufSchalke)

Expectations are not high for the transcontinental nation but, if they were to pull off a near-miracle and win the section, they would face one of the best third-placed finishers from Group A, B or C. A second-placed finish in the opening stages would set up a tie against the winner of Group D – France, Netherlands, Austria, or Poland.

Standings

Venues

Key players

Georgian football is undergoing something of a renaissance with talented young players across the pitch and a sprinkle of stardom in attack. Willy Sagnol’s side are still expected to struggle in their maiden European Championships but there will be some players that will make Georgia a team worth watching this summer. Here is a closer look at some of them:

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Caps (goals): 28 (15)

Position: Winger

Club: Napoli

You know you’re dealing with a talented player when their nickname is ‘Kvaradona’.

Georgia have arguably never had a player of the calibre of Khvicha Kvaratshkelia. The 23-year-old is already a four-time winner of the Georgian Football of the Year Award and has been touted for €100 million moves to some of Europe’s elite.

These transfer rumours have emerged after two years of playing for 2022-23 Serie A champions Napoli. In his debut season for the Partenopei, Kvaratshkelia registered 12 goals and 13 assists in Serie A, earning himself the Most Valuable Player in the league accolade. He also went home with the goal of the season award for his solo effort against Atalanta.

He has had a slightly more modest season in Serie A this year, registering 10 goals and eight assists across 34 league matches.

Georges Mikautadze

Caps (goals): 23 (9)

Position: Forward

Club: FC Metz (on loan from Ajax)

Georges Mikautadze was an integral part of FC Metz’s promotion to Ligue 1 in 2022-23. The Georgian forward ran away with the Ligue 2 Player of the Year Award with 23 goals and eight assists in 37 games for Les Grenats.

His imperious form earned him a move to Dutch giants Ajax in the summer for a reported €16 million. His Midas touch in front of goal did not translate to the Eredivisie; the 23-year-old was limited to just six appearances in the Netherlands top flight, failing to find the net or register an assist in his short spell.

In January, he was loaned back to FC Metz to aid their bid for Ligue 1 survival. Since his return, Mikautadze's prolific scoring output has returned with 13 goals in 19 appearances, including six of Metz’s final seven Ligue 1 games.

Giorgi Mamardashvili

Caps (clean sheets): 15 (6)

Position: Goalkeeper

Club: Valencia

Marmardashvili is the unsung hero of the Georgian national team. He does not garner the headlines like some of his attacking compatriots but the Valencia shot-stopper has earned praise across Europe since his move to La Liga in 2021.

This season is arguably the 23-year-old’s best since his move to the Mestalla; he has helped Los Ches to 13 clean sheets this campaign, third-best in La Liga and ahead of renowned Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak.

Previous performances in the Euros

Georgia have never played among Europe’s elite as an independent footballing nation before this summer. The closest they came to competing at the European Championships was in 2020, when a narrow 1-0 loss to a Goran Pandev-inspired North Macedonia in the play-offs ended their hopes of qualification.

Georgia’s previous performances in the Euros in full (excluding taking part as a member of the Soviet Union between 1960-1992):

1996: Did not qualify
2000: Did not qualify
2004: Did not qualify
2008: Did not qualify
2012: Did not qualify
2016: Did not qualify
2020: Did not qualify

Expectations

There are next to no expectations for Georgia at the 2024 European Championships. They enter the tournament as relative unknowns as they have never qualified for a major international competition before as an independent nation.

Yet they are in the midst of a golden generation with the likes of Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze primed to spearhead the next era of Georgian football.

Check out our Georgia betting odds for all our latest prices throughout the European Championships.

Odds and player information correct at time of publication but subject to change.