Georgia Upsets Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo Stunned as They Reach Euro 2024 Round of 16

Underdogs Georgia secure a historic victory, leaving Portugal and their star player Cristiano Ronaldo in disbelief.

Georgia staged the biggest upset in Euros history with a stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal on Wednesday, propelling them into the knockout phase of their first major tournament. The historic win was secured thanks to an early strike from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a penalty by Georges Mikautadze.

This remarkable triumph, even against a largely second-string Portugal team already assured of advancing, marked Georgia's greatest achievement since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The match was played in front of tens of thousands of ecstatic Georgian fans, making the victory even sweeter. It was also the most significant shock based on rankings, as 74th-ranked Georgia triumphed over sixth-ranked Portugal, the Euro 2016 champions.

Image Source : The Euros

Georgia had a challenging path to the tournament, finishing a disappointing fourth in their qualifiers. They secured their spot in Euro 2024 by winning their group in the Euro Nations tournament and then defeating Greece in a playoff. Under the guidance of coach Willy Sagnol, a former Bayern Munich and France defender, Georgia earned a third-place finish in Group F, setting up a last-16 clash with three-time Euro winners Spain.

Reflecting on the upcoming challenge, Sagnol remained unfazed by Spain's dominant 7-1 victory over Georgia in the qualifying stage last September. "When you are the small team of the competition, you know you have nothing to lose. You have no weight on your shoulders," Sagnol told reporters. "Today, I don't have a lot of words. I feel very proud to be their manager."

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Georgia's unexpected victory also reshaped the matchups in the round of 16. England will now face Slovakia, Romania will take on the Netherlands, and Portugal will meet Slovenia. Hungary, who had been vying for a spot in the next round, were edged out. In another Group F match on Wednesday, Turkey secured their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 win over a 10-man Czech Republic, who are now eliminated.

Image Source : The Euros

The match saw Georgia take the lead just 93 seconds in, when Kvaratskhelia capitalized on a careless pass by Antonio Silva and fired a low shot past Portugal’s goalkeeper, Diogo Costa. The Napoli winger expressed his elation after the game, saying, "This is the best day of my life. We have made history, and no one believed that we would beat Portugal. But we showed everyone that the Georgian team can make it happen."

Georgia’s win was celebrated across the nation, with fans and players alike reveling in the unexpected success. This victory not only marked a significant milestone in Georgian football history but also demonstrated the team’s potential to compete on the international stage.

As Georgia prepares to face Spain, Sagnol and his squad carry the hopes of their nation, ready to embrace the challenge with nothing to lose and everything to gain.