Sports Mole previews Saturday’s European Championship clash between Georgia and Czech Republic, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Both pointless at the bottom of Group F, Georgia and Czech Republic aim to get off the mark at Euro 2024 when they meet on Saturday evening.
After both were beaten in their opening game, Hamburg hosts the nations’ first encounter in any competition – and neither can afford to lose again.
Match preview
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Kicking off their first-ever European Championship campaign in Dortmund, a spirited Georgia side put Turkey to the test throughout 90 pulsating minutes and a frantic finale in stoppage time.
Pulling them level after Mert Muldur‘s superb strike put the Crescent-Stars in front, Georges Mikautadze scored his country’s historic maiden goal at a major international tournament, sending the Georgian fans into raptures.
In all, Willy Sagnol‘s side had 14 shots at goal – the most by any debutant since Austria in 2008 – but they were caught out twice more, including a late third for Turkey that resulted from goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili straying upfield in search of an equaliser.
Since the group stage was introduced, only two nations have lost their first match at the Euros but still qualified for the knockout stage, with Slovakia and Northern Ireland both doing so in 2016, but Georgia will now try to bounce back with a win that would keep them in contention.
Before meeting group favourites Portugal in their final group fixture, they will again turn to Mikautadze and star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for inspiration against the Czechs, who were also handed a defeat in Tuesday’s opener.
Some bookmakers were offering odds of 750-1 on Georgia lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy this summer, highlighting their outsider status, but even one point this weekend would keep dreams of a place in the knockout rounds alive.
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A draw would keep the Czech Republic’s hopes intact too, but they will be unable to reach the last 16 if they are beaten and Turkey do not lose to Portugal a few hours later.
Despite scoring the opener through Lukas Provod‘s 62nd-minute strike, Ivan Hasek‘s side then let Portugal back into both teams’ first Group F fixture, and a 2-1 defeat leaves them in distinct danger of an early exit.
An unfortunate own goal from Robin Hranac levelled matters in Leipzig, and with time running out, substitute Francisco Conceicao broke Czech hearts by bagging the Selecao’s winner.
Though they came so close to taking a precious point, the Czech Republic completed fewer passes than any team in the first round of matches at Euro 2024, also managing only eight touches in the opposition box.
The 1996 runners-up – who also reached the quarter-finals in two of their last three Euros – have now lost seven times in 12 group matches since the 2008 finals, and one more setback could send them packing on Saturday.
A more positive approach will be expected against Georgia, and having arrived in Germany on a run of five straight wins, playing more modest opponents should result in a change of emphasis.
Georgia European Championship form:
Georgia form (all competitions):
Czech Republic European Championship form:
Czech Republic form (all competitions):
Team News
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Kvaratskhelia has scored 15 times for his national team……
Giorgi Kochorashvili, who plays his club football for Levante…..
Georgia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Lochoshvili, Dvali, Kashia, Kverkvelia, Kakabadze; Kochorashvili, Kvekveskiri, Chakvetadze; Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze
Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Stanek; Holes, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Barak, Soucek, Provod, Doudera; Chytil, Schick
We say: Georgia X-Y Czech Republic
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