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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.

Thursday 27 June 2024 03:00

Ronaldo will start against Georgia, says Portugal head coach Martinez

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:

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Georgia’s glorious victory over Portugal reveals Euro 2024 quirk that helped them make history

The sound and the glory, that somehow offers England hope for glory. Georgia have literally roared their way into the last 16, to follow a first ever qualification for a tournament with a first qualification for the knock-out stages, after a momentous 2-0 win over Portugal. The raucous travelling support made it sound like all of the population was here. The return of proper crowds has ensured deafening noise has been an exhilarating theme of Euro 2024, and Georgia took it up a few decibels. This may have been the peak. It was certainly a peak in the country’s history, and that national moment may also have given England a moment that could yet have a significant impact on their tournament. This result ensured Gareth Southgate’s side will meet Slovakia rather than the Netherlands, in what now seems an even more forgiving potential run to the final.

The manager can of course just point to results like that from Portugal, and the very make-up of that last 16, as to why no one should be complacent about playing Slovakia. This tournament has had more surprises than expected, partly because there are few truly elite sides. It has given upwardly mobile teams like Georgia a real opportunity if they are willing to seize it, as they more than did here. In fact, they eagerly grasped it, as could be witnessed with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s exhilarating goal after just a minute.

Georgia enjoyed a moment they will remember forever as Antonio Silva endured two he’ll want to immediately forget. This was where another theme of the tournament influenced the game. The 24-team nature means that qualifications are secured early, meaning this was another match where a more successful national team could put out their second side. That has been a factor distorting all this.

Georgia’s glorious victory reveals Euro 2024 quirk that helped them make history

Georgia 2-0 Portugal: Willy Sagnol’s team inflicted a surprise defeat on the Portuguese as Georgia qualified for the last 16 for the very first time.

Chris Wilson26 June 2024 22:15

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We start with some of the reports from the other major games at the end of th group stages.

Belgium will face France in the last 16 of Euro 2024 following a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, who crashed out of the tournament.

The Red Devils limped through Group E, finishing second behind Romania.

That means they will meet France next as Ukraine exited on goal difference and become the first team to depart the extended European Championship at the group stage with four points.

Belgium will need a big improvement against the 2022 World Cup runners-up as they were distinctly average throughout the group stage.

They briefly showed promise in Saturday’s win over Romania, but they were otherwise poor.

Belgium limp into last 16 as Ukraine eliminated from Euro 2024

Ukraine 0-0 Belgium: Domenico Tedesco’s were second best in a goalless draw and now face France in the next round

Chris Wilson27 June 2024 03:00

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The best part about England at Euro 2024 so far? The flags and retro shirts

It hasn’t been pretty, it hasn’t been easy to watch. England are three games into their Euro 2024 campaign and so far the biggest discussions have centred over which players need to come out of the starting lineup, why the team can’t press, who isn’t fit, which former internationals are most angry and why, yet again, it’s almost certainly not coming home.

A narrow and nervy win over Serbia was followed by a tame and fortunate draw with Denmark. On Tuesday night, Group C came to a conclusion with a truly dismal goalless draw against Slovenia, leaving England short on inspiration and goalscoring form, but top of the quartet and safely through to the last 16.

There will be further recriminations and complaints after this game, and deservedly so after failing to beat a nation who have tallied precisely one win at major men’s international tournaments in their history.

But one factor surrounding England has been positive. One factor has been consistent, even impressive - and is nothing to do with the squad, the management or anything on-pitch at all.

The best part about England at Euro 2024? The flags and retro shirts

Gareth Southgate’s team have been dismal on the pitch but the following remains numerous, vocal and visible

Chris Wilson27 June 2024 02:00

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England’s biggest problem is now the easiest to solve

After about an hour on a hot, sticky night in Cologne, the England fans behind Jordan Pickford’s goal launched into a chant to the tune of the Great Escape, led by a banging drum and bellowed out with a renewed sense of purpose. When it reached the end, they started again, repeating themselves for at least 15 minutes, going in the same cycles, sticking to the same rhythm in an endless drone. In a way, it was a fitting tribute to the players in front of them, given that was how England performed in this dismal 0-0 draw against Slovenia.

For a while, it was heart-warming stuff from the travelling number, a determination to enjoy themselves and provide their own entertainment even when Gareth Southgate’s failed side could not. There was a gallows humour to it, nothing else for it than pretending England were winning. “The fans were exceptional in the second half,” Southgate said.

But, as Scotland have shown in the past week, when your fans and a continued sense of support off the pitch are the biggest positives to take, it’s a sign that things have gone badly wrong on it.

England’s biggest problem is now the easiest to solve

England 0-0 Slovenia: The Three Lions topped their group despite a dismal display

Chris Wilson27 June 2024 01:30

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Phil Foden temporarily leaves England’s Euro 2024 camp for urgent family issue

Some of the big England news from yesterday...

Phil Foden has left the England squad in Euro 2024 to return to the United Kingdom because of an urgent family issue.

The Manchester City winger, who featured in last night’s goalless draw with Slovenia, may be at risk of missing Sunday’s last-16 tie in Gelsenkirchen.

The FA did not confirm if and when Foden will come back to Germany.

Foden has started all three of England’s games as they won Group C, hitting the post in the 1-1 draw with Denmark.

It has since been reported that Foden is attending the birth of his third child.

Phil Foden temporarily leaves England’s Euro 2024 camp

The Manchester City midfielder has featured in all three of the Three Lions’ matches in Germany

Chris Wilson27 June 2024 01:00

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Gareth Southgate hits out at ‘unusual environment’ as plastic cups thrown at him

Gareth Southgate said there was a “unusual environment” around the England team after supporters threw plastic beer cups towards him following the dismal 0-0 draw against Slovenia that secured their progress to the last-16 of Euro 2024 as group winners.

There was a chorus of boos from the England fans at full-time in Cologne, with further grumblings towards the players as they made their way towards the corner flag to applaud the supporters.

But there was a fresh wave of boos reserved for Southgate as the manager approached the England end, which continued as he walked along the goal and applauded the supporters in Cologne.

Gareth Southgate hits out at ‘unusual environment’ as plastic cups thrown at him

Southgate was booed as he applauded the England fans, with a couple of supporters throwing plastic beer cups at the manager

Chris Wilson27 June 2024 00:30

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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

Chris Wilson27 June 2024 00:01

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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

Chris Wilson26 June 2024 23:40

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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.