A Georgian Preview
Are Georgia just “Happy to be here” or are we looking at one of those nations who rallies, lifts performance and makes remarkable progression when presented with the opportunity.
I for one, hope so.
A quite miraculous qualifying campaign saw Georgia top the group in the Nations League, win a playoff-semi against Luxembourg and then…beat Greece in the final on penalties following a goalless draw in Tbilisi.
Got that jotted down.
Cue probably the wildest celebrations a modern Tbilisi has seen, a city rich in culture, history and stunning architecture.
Georgia qualify for their first major competition
And so Georgia’s story begins at the Euros today against friendly opposition and neighbours, Turkey.
Politically landlocked, these nations not only share traditions but also get-along rather swimmingly…so today could be the worst kind of start for a nation looking to leverage any advantage on a football pitch.
But they may not need it, led by the Willy Sagnol a Frenchman who carved out a brilliant career playing for Bayern Munich also represented his country on 58 separate occasions. Limited opportunities internationally due to a Mr Lillian Thuram could all but be forgiven.
Willy Sagnol in his playing days for France
However, the fruits lie in his coaching and Georgia have picked and reaped at the rewards. Having spent time coaching under the guise of a certain Mr Ancelotti, Sagnol has guided and nurtured this Georgian team to its first major competition, a job 3 years in the making amid qualifying heartbreak for the World Cup.
They also have some much favoured arsenal in their locker with a golden boy shaped Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, outshining everyone in the famous Napoli Scudetto win of 2022/23, Kvaratskelia is looking to make huge waves for his adoring nation, starting with neighbours Turkey.
But he’s not alone in this mission, a keen footballing eye would have you notice young Ajax forward Georges Mikautadze making his own journey in the French league this season. Scoring goals for a struggling Metz team, 13 with 4 assists for a relegated side is nothing to be sniffed at, a new star to look out for.
One to watch, Mikautadze.
Elsewhere goalkeeper Mamardashvili is just 23 and considered to be a potential world-class talent, captain Guram Kashia is an experienced leader at centre-back spending a period of his career at San Jose Earthquakes and now plying his trade with Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, seasoned let’s say.
I like this team, I like the story.
It’s everything you’d want in a fairytale…and you know what they say about them.
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