Georgia v Portugal LIVE: Result and reaction as Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze goals earn shock win
Georgia 2-0 Portugal: A major upset sees Georgia qualify reach the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.
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Your support makes all the difference.Georgia produced one of the most surprising results at Euro 2024 when they defeated Portugal 2-0 to qualify for the knockout stages a a major tournament for the very first time.
The eastern European nation registered the mot historic win as goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze ensured they finished third in Group F.
That saw them qualify for the last 16 where they will play Spain, while Portugal meet Slovenia and England’s opponents are now confirmed to be Slovakia.
Portugal’s position as Group F winners was secured with wins in their opening two games, so boss Roberto Martinez made eight changes to his starting XI though Cristiano Ronaldo retained his place at the head of the line.
Relive the updates and reaction to Group F’s finale below:
England v Slovenia player ratings as Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo offers Three Lions hope at Euro 2024
England played out a drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia in Cologne as Group C concluded on a stifling night in north Germany.
The Three Lions got off to a slow start, with a largely uneventful first half offering up one dangerous delivery from Kieran Trippier and a disallowed goal after some invention from Phil Foden.
The lack of tempo, movement and creativity continued in the second half even with the addition of Kobbie Mainoo and then Cole Palmer, with England struggling to create clear-cut chances across the entirety of the 90 minutes.
England managed to grab first place in Group C thanks to the result in the other game between Denmark and Serbia, but there were audible boos at the full-time whistle as Gareth Southgate’s struggles continue at Euro 2024.
But how did each player perform? Below are The Independent’s player ratings.
England v Slovenia player ratings as Cole Palmer offers Three Lions hope at Euro 2024
England 0-0 Slovenia: The Three Lions laboured to a draw against Slovenia but squeezed through at the top of Group C
Boring England suffer again and only one thing can salvage Euro 2024 bid
And here’s the report from last night’s England game...
Declan Rice had said before this game that it might only take one match to transform England’s tournament and that might now be true… although not because of anything Gareth Southgate’s side actually did. They again didn’t do much at all. They still somehow find themselves on the more forgiving side of the Euro 2024 draw due to results elsewhere. Southgate won’t have to worry about any of Germany, Spain, Portugal or France until the final… if they make it that far.
That is why that run can be a negative, too. Such an opportunity potentially brings more pressure, for a team that barely look like beating anybody right now.
They toiled against a defiant and now qualified Slovenia for a 0-0. That it followed the chaos of Group D, which means England may now play Netherlands in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, only made it all the more pronounced. They look one of the most boring teams in a tournament that has generally been so entertaining, having only scored two goals in three games.
Boring England suffer again but one solution can salvage Euro 2024 bid
England 0-0 Slovenia: Gareth Southgate’s side toiled in the Cologne heat but secured top spot to advance to the last 16 of Euro 2024
England to face Slovakia in first knockout stage at Euro 2024
Attention turns back to the Three Lions now, and Gareth Southgate’s side will play Slovakia in the Euro 2024 last 16 on Sunday.
England topped Group C despite recording underwhelming draws against Denmark and Slovenia after winning their opener against Serbia.
That 1-0 triumph came in Gelsenkirchen, where the Euro 2020 runners-up will return this weekend to take on Francesco Calzona’s side.
Slovakia finished among the four best third-placed sides and were confirmed as England’s opponents upon the conclusion of the group stage on Wednesday night.
England to face Slovakia in first knockout stage at Euro 2024
Slovakia are the third-placed team awaiting England in the last 16.
Euro 2024 last 16
Though looking ahead to the last 16, we know have every result of the group stages at Euro 2024.
Friday, June 14
Group A, Munich: Germany 5-1 Scotland
June 15
Group A, Cologne: Hungary 1-3 Switzerland
Group B, Berlin: Spain 3-0 Croatia
Group B, Dortmund: Italy 2-1 Albania
June 16
Group D, Hamburg: Poland 1-2 Netherlands
Group C, Stuttgart: Slovenia 1-1 Denmark
Group C, Gelsenkirchen: Serbia 0-1 England
June 17
Group E, Munich: Romania 3-0 Ukraine
Group E, Frankfurt: Belgium 0-1 Slovakia
Group D, Dusseldorf: Austria 0-1 France
June 18
Group F, Dortmund: Turkey 3-1 Georgia
Group F, Leipzig: Portugal 2-1 Czechia
June 19
Group B, Hamburg: Croatia 2-2 Albania
Group A, Stuttgart: Germany 2-0 Hungary
Group A, Cologne: Scotland 1-1 Switzerland
June 20
Group C, Munich: Slovenia 1-1 Serbia
Group C, Frankfurt: Denmark 1-1 England
Group B, Gelsenkirchen: Spain 1-0 Italy
June 21
Group E, Dusseldorf: Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine
Group D, Berlin: Poland 1-3 Austria
Group D, Leipzig: Netherlands 0-0 France
June 22
Group F, Hamburg: Georgia 1-1 Czechia
Group F, Dortmund: Turkey 0-3 Portugal
Group E, Cologne: Belgium 2-0 Romania
June 23
Group A, Frankfurt: Switzerland 1-1 Germany
Group A, Stuttgart: Scotland 0-1 Hungary
June 24
Group B, Leipzig: Croatia 1-1 Italy
Group B, Dusseldorf: Albania 0-1 Spain
June 25
Group D, Berlin: Netherlands 2-3 Austria
Group D, Dortmund: France 1-1 Poland
Group C, Cologne: England 0-0 Slovenia
Group C, Munich: Denmark 0-0 Serbia
June 26
Group E. Frankfurt: Slovakia 1-1 Romania
Group E, Stuttgart: Ukraine 0-0 Belgium
Group F, Hamburg: Czechia 1-2 Turkey
Group F, Gelsenkirchen: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
Euro 2024 last-16 ties
Below is a list of the round of 16 fixtures for Euro 2024 (all times BST):
Saturday, 29 June
Switzerland v Italy – 5pm, Berlin
Germany v Denmark – 8pm, Dortmund
30 June
England v Slovakia – 5pm, Gelsenkirchen
Spain v Georgia – 8pm, Cologne
1 July
France v Belgium – 5pm, Dusseldorf
Portugal v Slovenia – 8pm, Frankfurt
2 July
Romania v Netherlands – 5pm, Munich
Austria v Turkey – 8pm, Leipzig
Next matches
Tonight’s results mean that Georgia’s next game will come against Spain in Cologne in the round of 16! That game kicks off at 8pm BST on Sunday, 30 June.
Portugal’s last-16 tie takes place in Frankfurt on Monday 1 July – they’ll be facing Slovenia.
Georgia’s best chance to cause a Euro 2024 upset isn’t Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
How’s this for foresight? A little pre-tournament preview on Mikautadze, who currently leads the Euro 2024 golden boot race.
There are few real stars around Europe who are truly unknown when it comes time for summer international tournaments summer anymore, at least not in the way used to be the case. Czech Republic and Euro ‘96 are a great case in point: few were familiar names before it, a whole raft of players were not just known, but sought-after, following their exploits there.
Modern accessibility to more matches and footage than ever before means some of that surprise element has departed, even if players can still come from nowhere to have a great summer with their national team.
But even from countries with less prestige or history, if they have a genuinely top-tier player, they enter the tournament as known quantities, generally speaking. Georgia, at Euro 2024 in their first competition finalssince independence from the Soviet Union, at first seem a case in point.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was an unheralded signing in many ways when Napoli took him from Dinamo Batumi in his home nation - he was back there having previously been playing in Russia when the invasion of Ukraine began, thus allowing him to suspend his contract with Rubin Kazan. But within a few months, he was known everywhere.
And yet Georgia present a confusion of both the above statements: firstly, they do arrive with a relative unknown quantity in their ranks who can make an impression, and secondly, it may be this other player, not their best player in Kvaratskhelia, who offers their best route to cause an upset in Group F. Introducing, Georges Mikautadze.
Georgia’s best chance to cause a Euro 2024 upset isn’t Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
The Napoli star is one of Europe’s best wingers, but Georges Mikautadze is a goalscorer in fantastic form
Georgia v Portugal player ratings as Cristiano Ronaldo’s side slump to surprise defeat
Portugal had looked like a force to be reckoned with at Euro 2024, but they slipped to a surprise 2-0 defeat to Georgia as Group F came to its conclusion.
It was a historic night for Georgia, who had never played in the tournament before, they played with spirit and conviction and have booked their place in the knockout stages.
The game sparked into life almost immediately when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring after less than two minutes as Georgia stormed out of the blocks.
The match continued in its chaotic, thrilling manner, with Portugal trying to build from the back and Georgia launching everything possible into their counter-attacks.
Portugal kept trying to get back into the game, but had chances saved and blocked, before Georges Mikautadze doubled Georgia’s advantage from the penalty spot, after Luka Lochoshvili won a penalty against Antonio Silva.
Click below to see The Independent’s player ratings from a historic night at Euro 2024.
Georgia v Portugal player ratings as Cristiano Ronaldo’s side slump to surprise loss
Georgia stunned Portugal to claim their place in the knockout stages in their maiden European Championship
Group F standings
So here’s how it ends with Group F.
1 (Q) - Portugal - 6 points, GD +2
2 (Q) - Turkey - 6 points, GD 0
3 (Q) - Georgia - 4 points, GD 0
4 - Czech Republic - 1 point, GD -2
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