Winner on penalties within the play-off in opposition to Greece, debutant at Euro 2024, aggressive from begin to end, Georgia went even additional, surpassed all imagined limits, beat Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo 2-0 and flew at full pace, between the apotheosis, till the spherical of 16 to problem Spain.
It is without doubt one of the greatest third-placed groups within the group. The truth is, it’s the greatest in that place together with the Netherlands. Its deserves are unquestionable. Its worth is magnificent. It didn’t quit or lose face. It performed to win each match. And it beat a large like Portugal in opposition to all odds, on the final matchday, with the whole lot at stake. And in an unbeatable means.
The staff was forward from the minute and a half, when Kvaratskhelia was an unstoppable storm for the Portuguese defence, till the top, with Mikautadze’s penalty objective within the 57th minute. Each actions have been blamed on Antonio Silva, for the lack of the ball that led to the deadly counterattack that led to the 1-0 and for the penalty dedicated for the 2-0.
“I have not given my greatest but.” Kvara was not hiding something the day earlier than. He accepted it with the naturalness of the chief he represents for Georgia. Their greatest participant. With out nuances. And not using a single doubt. His qualities are unmatched by any of his teammates. A group of abilities that make him appropriate for something he units his thoughts to. In Napoli or outdoors of it.
With out complicated
Even with Georgia. He had by no means performed in a European Championship. He hadn’t even come shut. Already in Germany 2024, he by no means suffered any complexes. He competed head to head with everybody. He did it with Türkiye, he repeated it with the Czech Republic and went even additional. In opposition to Portugal, diminished by rotations, however with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Félix, Danilo Pereira, Joao Palhinha…
The classification and historical past awaited him. The feat and the conviction mobilized him. The unprecedented alternative to succeed in one of many sixteen locations within the spherical of 16 within the European competitions. A novel second, which he fought and loved till the top, immediately launched for 1 minute and 31 seconds during which he flew for the 1-0 objective.
He hadn’t even touched the ball. Portugal moved it on a regular basis. Georgia waited for the suitable second. The error was made by Antonio Silva. Twenty years, a World Cup already performed, the primary Euro Cup, his first minutes within the event and an inappropriate move to the center that unleashed his opponent’s counterattack. It was launched by Mikautadze. Kvaratskhelia accomplished it. Unimaginable.
A greater than severe warning for Portugal. For this Wednesday. And, above all, for later. Roberto Martínez proposed a large rotation within the beginning eleven, which he didn’t need to name a “revolution”, though he modified eight of the eleven starters from the primary two matches. There was nothing at stake within the final match within the classification. There was within the development that he insists on, within the sensations that he wants, within the reaffirmation that appeared already inevitable.
The 1-0 was unaffordable in such claims. Much more so following the 2-0. Additionally for the ambition of Cristiano Ronaldo, pissed off by the grabbing within the space, reprimanded for the dangerous means during which he reprimanded the referee on the verge of half an hour. A card that warns him of a sanction within the spherical of 16. A threat. The break nonetheless continued. To the road, to the fourth referee, when he was going to the locker room, once more with the gesture of grabbing his shirt.
Portugal didn’t discover the best way
45 minutes into the sport, Portugal nonetheless did not really feel snug. Georgia retreated and, above all, made her run backwards. It was Willy Sagnol’s plan, who has a legion of supportive footballers, who give the whole lot at each second, as if it have been the final ball, probably the most decisive. Gvelesiani’s reduce to Cristiano Ronaldo, on a volley, was unimaginable.
It additionally required resistance. One shot from Cristiano, first. To a different from Palhinha, later. To a shot by Francisco Conceiçao. And a left foot shot from Joao Félix. He noticed him go down the underside Mamardashvili in shock. The Georgian response was a countercoup. It was Kvaratskhelia. One participant in opposition to the whole lot. However what a participant. At full pace, his driving is unstoppable. Joao Félix tried Mamardashvili once more, additionally with out an excessive amount of hassle. Relaxation.
Portugal pushed tougher at the beginning of the second half. From the primary second, they have been near scoring, nothing fixed, only for a number of moments, when once more ‘Kvara’, with a way more direct, a lot less complicated shot than within the first objective, shouted even louder the resounding, unequivocal response from Georgia.
And immediately, a penalty. Antonio Silva dedicated it, on his worst night time with Portugal; Lochoshvili suffered it; VAR decided it and Mikautadze referred to as it. They’re within the spherical of 16. They’re Spain’s opponents. De la Fuente has been warned. The shock of the Euros, with a last recital of saves from Mamardashvili.
Gelsenkirchen / EFE
#Apotheosis #Georgia #rival #Spain #Euro
2024-06-28 22:26:26
