Willy Sagnol’s Georgia, a novice at the Euro, created one of the biggest surprises in the history of the competition with a victory against Portugal (2-0) on Wednesday, which sent it to the round of 16 against Spain.
A clamor of all devils accompanied the final whistle, with the heroes on the ground, and the vanquished angry, like captain Cristiano Ronaldo, with a black look.
The Little Thumb of the tournament shocked the Seleçao, already qualified and heavily overhauled at kick-off, and sent their noisy supporters, who came to represent the 3.7 million of their compatriots, to heaven.
The former Soviet republic will be in the round of 16 against the « Roja »his silky game and his three European stars, Sunday.
Stars Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, the only two in the squad, knocked out a Portuguese ogre by feasting on the rare offensive crumbs.
Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo replaced in the second half against Georgia, June 26, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen / OZAN KOSE / AFP
The Naples winger and the Metz striker took advantage of the blunders made by young defender Antonio Silva, guilty of a bad back pass on the opening score and a penalty on the second goal.
Mikautadze sent the ball in the right tempo and space to “Fourth” who scored with a left cross shot after one minute and thirty seconds (2nd, 1-0).
The Neapolitan, superstar of his selection at 23, celebrated his goal with a slide on his knees like Ronaldo, his idol, in front of the turn of his supporters, white hot, like the color of their jersey.
Ronaldo angry
The defense held firm until half-time, despite Portugal’s 70% possession and eleven shots (including 3 on target).
Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze (l) in the fight with Portuguese Diogo Dalot, June 26, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen / PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP
It took a vigilant goalkeeper to repel a distant and powerful free kick from Ronaldo (16th), recorded 130 km away, a brushed shot from Joao Palhinha (23rd), an attempt from Joao Félix (45th + 1) and a firecracker from Diogo Dalot (90th+3).
In this duel between the novice Georgia (74th in the Fifa ranking) and the regular Portuguese (6th in the Fifa ranking), a sort of David and Goliath of football, the K-0 came from the underdog.
Antonio Silva put his foot in opposition in front of Luka Lochoshvili, a fault detected by the VAR and exploited on the penalty spot by Mikautadze, with a cold-blooded shot close to the post (57th, 2-0).
Ronaldo had the bad days: he called for a penalty for a shirt pulling, in vain, collecting a warning in the process, he stamped on the pitch in spite of a missed opportunity and was replaced, furious, after the hour of play.
The former glory of Real Madrid, a rare Portuguese starter lined up on Wednesday, will have five days to vent his frustration. The Seleçao, 2016 European champion, is expected on July 1 in Frankfurt against Slovenia for the rest of the adventures.
Georgia’s French coach Willy Sagnol during the match against Portugal, June 26, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen / INA FASSBENDER / AFP
That of Willy Sagnol, appointed in February 2021, turned into a fairy tale with Georgia, which he qualified for the first time in an international competition, via the play-offs.
“Being here is already a victory,” the 47-year-old Frenchman said the day before, convinced that his team had ” level “ to participate in the great celebration of European football.
His players play in Watford, Levante, Graz, Krakow or Nicosia, for example, but they demonstrated their value against a supercharged Turkey team (3-1 defeat), against the Czech Republic (1-1) and against Portugal .
