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Georgia v Portugal LIVE: Result and reaction as Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze goals earn shock win
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:
Euro 2024: Georgia v Portugal
Georgia defeat Portugal in the final round of games in Group F
REPORT: Georgia’s glorious victory over Portugal reveals Euro 2024 quirk that helped them make history
RATINGS: Player ratings as Cristiano Ronaldo’s side slump to surprise defeat
57’ GOAL! Mikautadze converts penalty to double Georgia’s lead (GEO 2-0 POR)
47’ CHANCE! Dvali flies in to block Ronaldo’s effort from six yards (GEO 1-0 POR)
27’ CHANCE! Conceicao hooks a shot into the side netting (GEO 1-0 POR)
2’ GOAL! Kvaratskhelia stuns Portuguese with early goal (GEO 1-0 POR)
Georgia 2 - 0 Portugal
Georgia’s glorious victory over Portugal reveals Euro 2024 quirk that helped them make history
22:15 , Chris Wilson
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
Next matches
22:30 , Chris Wilson
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
22:20 , Chris Wilson
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
Georgia v Portugal player ratings as Cristiano Ronaldo’s side slump to surprise defeat
22:10 , Chris Wilson
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
Group F standings
22:05 , Chris Wilson
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
FT: Georgia 2-0 Portugal - GEORGIA THROUGH TO THE LAST 16!
22:00 , Chris Wilson
An unforgettable night for Georgia.
FULL-TIME! Georgia 2-0 Portugal - GEORGIA THROUGH TO THE LAST 16!
21:55 , Chris Wilson
FULL-TIME! The final whistle goes in Gelsenkirchen and the competition’s lowest ranked side are into the last 16 at their first ever appearance in a major tournament!
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:53 , Chris Wilson
94 mins
Portugal have two corners in a row but it’s not bothering anyone. Georgia are seconds from history.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:53 , Chris Wilson
93 mins
CLOSE! A huge let-off for Georgia!
Conceicao gathers the ball in the box and fires it goalwards with his left foot. It’s going wide but it’s right in the path of Ramos, who just can’t get a touch to it to direct it in!
The kind of ball where any slight touch ends in a goal!
Moments later, Dalot tries from distance and forces another comfortable save from Mamardashvili.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:51 , Chris Wilson
91 mins
There’ll be four minutes of added time in Gelsenkirchen.
At the tenth time of asking, Felix does actually swing a good ball in to the far post, but Mamardashvili collects it well after Semedo had tried to hook it across the mouth of the goal.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:49 , Chris Wilson
90 mins
Portugal swing another hopeful ball forward, and once again it’s straight out for a goal kick. The Georgian party has started in the stands at the Veltins Arena.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:48 , Chris Wilson
88 mins
More good play from Kakabadze ends with him winning a free-kick on the right wing. Another Georgia attack makes it as far as the box, but the ball is taken off the foot of Kochorashvili as he entered the box.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:45 , Chris Wilson
86 mins
Mekvabishvili is booked for a late tackle on Nunes. Portugal are playing like a side who know they were through a few days ago.
Some great play from Mikautadze ends with him slipping a ball through to Kiteishvili, but he crashes his effort against the side-netting.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:43 , Chris Wilson
84 mins
A great challenge on Conceicao from Kakabadze, and he carries it out of danger before winning a throw, to a chorus of cheers.
It’s not long before Portugal attack again, but as has been the theme of the evening, it’s a wasteful, hopeful and inaccurate ball in.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:41 , Chris Wilson
81 mins
Slightly better from Felix and he clips a ball into Jota and it’s taken off his foot for a corner. The delivery in is cleared though, before Georgia make two more changes.
Kvaratskhelia and Chakvetadze come off for Zariko Davitashvili and Mekvabishvili.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:39 , Chris Wilson
80 mins
Felix is the latest to swing in a Portugal cross, but it’s hopeful rather than calculated and it goes straight out for a goal kick. Very representative of Portugal’s attacking efforts so far this evening.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:37 , Chris Wilson
78 mins
Boos ring around the Veltins as Portugal keep the ball for a sustained period, but Georgia emerge unscathed. They counter, but Tsitaishvili’s ball across goal is cleared by Danilo Pereira.
Kvaratskhelia’s ball in is cleared too.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:36 , Chris Wilson
76 mins
Portugal also brought on Matheus Nunes there – he replaced Joao Neves.
Georgia make a change straight away too – Kvirkvelia comes on for Gvelesiani at centre-back.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:33 , Chris Wilson
75 mins
Great work from Mamardashvili again as he rises high to claim Conceicao’s cross.
Portugal bring on Diogo Jota for Pedro Neto.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:31 , Chris Wilson
73 mins
CLOSE! Georgia counter as Mikautadze holds it up and lays it off to Lochoshvili, who slides it through to Chakvetadze. He bears down on goal before hitting a powerful shot, but it flies wide.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:30 , Chris Wilson
71 mins
As was the case in the first half, Portugal are having plenty of the ball in the final third, but they’re lacking any sort of penetration.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:28 , Chris Wilson
68 mins
Plenty of commotion in the Georgia box ends with Kakabadze taking a high boot to the head.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:26 , Chris Wilson
66 mins
The Portugal cross is headed out to Conceicao just inside the box, and he hooks a half-volley over.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:25 , Chris Wilson
65 mins
Georgia make a change as Tsitaishvili replaces Lochoshvili. Portugal attack again but Kvaratskhelia does brilliantly to evade the challenge and win a free-kick.
With that stoppage, Roberto Martinez makes two changes as Ronaldo and Silva come off for Goncalo Ramos and Nelson Semedo.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:21 , Chris Wilson
62 mins
Georgia attack again but there’s a sea of Portugal shirts to close out Kvaratskhelia.
Portugal come again but Conceicao’s cross goes out on the other end of the pitch.
Euro 2024: Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:18 , Chris Wilson
60 mins
That goal puts Mikautadze at the top of the golden boot list for now. More importantly, it’s given Georgia breathing room and they’re just over half an hour from the last 16.
GOAL! Georgia 2-0 Portugal
21:17 , Chris Wilson
57 mins
GOAL! Wild celebrations in Gelsenkirchen!
Mikautadze steps up and fires his penalty low and into the corner! Costa went the right way but it was brilliantly placed.
PENALTY TO GEORGIA! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
21:15 , Chris Wilson
56 mins
There’s a lengthy VAR check and the penalty is given! Silva had clipped Lochoshvili as he skipped past him.
Penalty to Georgia!
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
21:14 , Chris Wilson
55 mins
Neves goes into the book for dragging Chakvetadze back.
Georgia work the attack and the ball comes in from the right, with Costa clawing it away. Georgia come again and Lochoshvili skips past the challenge in the box and is brought down. There’ll be a check from VAR, but play carries on.
Portugal counter and Dalot strikes a curled effort from distance, forcing a brilliant save from Mamardashvili!
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
21:10 , Chris Wilson
50 mins
CLOSE! Now Georgia go close!
The goal kick comes all the way to the right-hand edge of the box and the ball is played in. Mikautadze swings at it but he misses, and it rolls to Kvaratskhelia in the middle of the box, but he scuffs his effort wide!
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
21:08 , Chris Wilson
47 mins
CLOSE! So close from Ronaldo, but it’s an amazing block from Dvali!
The corner comes in from the left and it bounces off a couple of red shirts before landing at the feet of Ronaldo. It looks like a certain goal but a red shirt flies in from nowhere to get the block and divert the ball over.
KICK-OFF! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
21:05 , Chris Wilson
KICK-OFF! Georgia get the second half started and they’re 45 minutes from history.
Portugal have made a half-time change – Palhinha is off for Ruben Neves.
HALF-TIME! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
21:02 , Chris Wilson
Both teams have emerged from the tunnel and we’re close to the start of the second half in Gelsenkirchen.
HALF-TIME! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:59 , Chris Wilson
A frustrating half for Portugal, with none of the nine changes having done anything to suggest they should be starting in Frankfurt next week.
Georgia started brilliantly and have managed to sit back and frustrate the Selecao since the second minute!
But Ronaldo and co. have been far too pedestrian in attack, with no real creativity on show.
Worth noting that if results were to stay this way, England would face SLOVAKIA rather than the Netherlands in the next round.
HALF-TIME! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:55 , Chris Wilson
HALF-TIME! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:48 , Chris Wilson
47 mins
The half ends with a Portugal corner, and it’s swung in by Neto, but Mamardashvili punches it away at the near post.
The referee blows the whistle, and Georgia go into the break 1-0 up, and 45 minutes away from the last 16 of their first ever international tournament!
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:46 , Chris Wilson
45 mins
There’ll be two added minutes in Gelsenkirchen, as Felix drives at the Georgia defence before driving a low shot straight at Mamardashvili.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:45 , Chris Wilson
43 mins
The first bit of invention comes from Felix as he uses a bit of skill to beat his man before sliding it through to Conceicao. They work it back to the edge of the box, and Palhinha curls a shot wide.
Moments later, Pedro Neto is booked for diving.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:43 , Chris Wilson
42 mins
Not a lot of action over the last few minutes as Kvaratskhelia was briefly down after receiving a blow to the face.
Once again Portugal have it in a not-so-dangerous area.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:40 , Chris Wilson
39 mins
Plenty more sustained possession from Portugal but very little threat. They’ve got the ball a third of the way into the Georgia half, but there’s no penetration.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:36 , Chris Wilson
37 mins
For all their possession, Portugal have yet to create a clear-cut chance. Palhinha tries to change this as he clips a disguised pass into the onrushing Ronaldo, but the 39-year-old’s volley is blocked!
Georgian counter from the corner and it ends with Dalot conceding the free-kick. Kvaratskhelia delivers and it just beats the head of Gvelesiani and bounces right across the six-yard box before going out!
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:33 , Chris Wilson
33 mins
Georgia have a half-chance in attack, and after plenty of pinball in the box, Kvaratskhelia fires a shot against the side-netting.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:31 , Chris Wilson
30 mins
Joao Felix is the latest to try from distance, and though it’s a well-struck effort, it flies wide of the post. It had Mamardashvili worried though.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:29 , Chris Wilson
28 mins
CLOSE! The corner routine ends with a cross in from the left, and it runs to Conceicao, who crashes a shot into the side-netting.
Ronaldo is booked for having words with the referee – he felt his shirt was being grabbed.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:27 , Chris Wilson
27 mins
Georgia are beginning to get pushed back rnow, though they’d have had a couple of decent counters if their passing was a bit more accurate.
Portugal win a corner after a poor attempted clearance by Kashia.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:24 , Chris Wilson
23 mins
Palhinha tries the effort from range but it’s straight into the gloves of Mamardashvili.
Moments later, both Felix and Neves have efforts blocked.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:21 , Chris Wilson
22 mins
Felix swings in a free-kick from the right and it reaches Antonio Silva just beyond the back post, but he can only direct his header wide and over! Ronaldo was coming in just behind him at a far more favourable angle too.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:20 , Chris Wilson
20 mins
Georgia’s gameplan is pretty set as we approach the 20th minute. They’re not sitting too deep yet but they’re definitely on the defensive, with a pretty consistent two banks of four – or sometimes a five and a three – sitting behind the ball when they don’t have it.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:17 , Chris Wilson
17 mins
The days of the long-range Ronaldo free-kick may be long gone, but this one is a decent effort. It loops over the wall and Mamardashvili has to punch it away for a corner, which the ‘keeper eventually collects.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:16 , Chris Wilson
15 mins
It’s a bit hectic at times now as both sides are struggling to keep possession. Georgia sweep it wide to Lochoshvili, but his early cross is deflected straight to Costa.
Portugal are mainly walking in possession with almost the entire Georgia team sitting in front of them, but Inacio inexplicably passes it straight out of play.
Shortly after, Portugal win a free-kick in a dangerous area...
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:12 , Chris Wilson
12 mins
Kvaratskhelia collects the ball in midfield and starts the counter, but it ends as Kochorashvili’s ball in is headed away.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:10 , Chris Wilson
10 mins
Conceicao looks the clip a ball forward to Ronaldo, but he’s asking too much of the 39-year-old.
Portugal come again but it’s all too pedestrian at the moment, with Conceicao running the ball out for a goal kick.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:09 , Chris Wilson
8 mins
Mikautadze tries a searching through ball to Chakvetadze, but it’s too hopeful.
Neto plays it in to Ronaldo, but his flick is wayward.
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:07 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
No chances since the goal but it’s been all Portugal. Can Georgia sit back and counter for the next 90?
Euro 2024: Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:06 , Chris Wilson
4 mins
We hadn’t had time to settle before that goal. Portugal had had the ball the entire time, and were just trying to feel their way into the game. It was great work from Mikautadze once he’d received it, and a brilliant finish from Kvaratskhelia too.
Portugal have possession again.
GOAL! Georgia 1-0 Portugal
20:04 , Chris Wilson
2 mins
GOAL! Unbelievable scenes in Gelsenkirchen!
The game starts with plenty of Portugal possession and they get too relaxed – it comes to Silva, who dwells on it before playing a pass backwards without looking. It goes straight to Mikautadze, who carries towards goal and slips it through to Kvaratskhelia on the left. He takes a touch before blasting a shot across Costa and into the far corner!
KICK-OFF! Georgia 0-0 Portugal
20:00 , Chris Wilson
KICK-OFF!
The Selecao get us underway in Gelsenkirchen.
Euro 2024: Georgia v Portugal
19:56 , Chris Wilson
Both sides are out of the tunnel at the Arena AufSchalke, and the national anthems are almost underway.
Will Georgia be heading home tonight, or will they spring the shock of the tournament so far and beat a much-changed Portugal side?
We’ll find out soon.
Euro 2024: Georgia v Portugal
19:50 , Chris Wilson
Portugal are already through as group winners tonight.
Georgia could go through with a win, with the minnows able to finish as high as second if the other result tonight was to go their way.
Euro 2024: Georgia v Portugal
19:45 , Chris Wilson
Around 15 minutes until kick-off in Gelsenkirchen.
A reminder that you can watch tonight’s game live on ITV1.
Form guide
19:40 , Chris Wilson
Georgia: D-L-W-W-W
Georgia qualified for their first major tournament through the Nations League route, having finished fourth in their original qualifying group.
They beat Luxembourg 2-0 to reach a final play-off, and then beat Greece 4-2 on penalties to secure their spot at Euro 2024. They played won warm-up game before the competition – a friendly against Montenegro, which they won 3-1.
The minnows served up one of the games of the tournament in their opening clash with Turkey, though they went on to lose 3-1. They responded well though, drawing with the Czech Republic last time out.
Portugal: W-W-W-L-W
Qualification was a lot more straightforward for Portugal, who finished top of their group with 10 wins from 10.
The Selecao played three warm-up games earlier this month, with a 2-1 loss to Croatia sandwiched between a 4-2 win over Finland and a 3-0 victory against Ireland.
They laboured to a narrow 2-1 win in their group opener against the Czech Republic, though their second game was far more traightforward as Turkey put in a poor performance and Portugal strolled to an easy 3-0 win.
Head-to-head
19:35 , Chris Wilson
Portugal and Georgia have only met once before, and that was in a friendly in 2008. A Portugal side containing Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Pepe and Ronaldo won 2-0 on the night, with goals coming from Joao Moutinho and Simao.
Tonight marks what could be Georgia’s final game in their first ever appearance at a major international tournament, though they would qualify for the last 16 if they were to win.
The tournament’s lowest-ranked side have won the hearts of many after valiant performances against Turkey and the Czech Republic, though they have faced more shots (49) and more shots on target (20) than any other side in the opening two group games.
Georges Mikautadze has two goals so far for the minnows, and he could become the third player to score his team’s first three goals at a European Championship, after Gerd Muller and Hristo Stoichkov.
For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo could become the oldest player to score at the Euros if he scores tonight. Luka Modric currently holds that record after netting against Italy a few days ago!
Turkey v Portugal player ratings as Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo thrive in confident display
19:30 , Chris Wilson
Here are the player ratings from Portugal’s win over with Turkey, with Silva, Ronaldo and Fernandes particularly impressive.
Rafael Leao and Nuno Mendes combined on the left to set up Bernardo Silva’s first European Championship goal before a calamitous back pass from Samet Akaydin doubled Portugal’s lead before half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo then came to the party in the second half with a fine run in behind to break the offside trap. He received the pass, took the ball into the box then slotted it across to Bruno Fernandes for Portugal’s third.
Turkey v Portugal player ratings as Bernardo Silva thrives in confident display
Pitch invaders, lookalikes and a steward’s slide tackle: Ninety minutes in the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo
19:25 , Chris Wilson
If it had been thought that the cult of Cristiano Ronaldo was diminishing, you only had to listen to the man who is notionally supposed to be his superior. Portugal manager Roberto Martinez was asked about Bruno Fernandes’ goal in the 56th minute against Turkey, which to most people looking on would have just been a striker squaring to his teammate for an easy finish; think Brian McClair to Paul Ince in the 1994 FA Cup final. The only notable thing about it was that someone as intensely obsessed with his own scoring record as Cristiano Ronaldo had actually passed the ball, but that kind of surprise wasn’t really the emotion that Martinez was conveying. He was going for more.
“It is fantastic to have Cristiano, who is an out-and-out goalscorer who lives for the goal and then he gets in front of the goalkeeper, and he looks for the pass to Bruno Fernandes. It is a pure moment of Portuguese football, that should be shown in every academy in the world, and that means more than any goal.”
It does, but not in the bizarre manner that Martinez intended. This entire occasion at Westfalonstadion – which in any normal situation would have simply been a convincing win from a team asserting themselves as one of the best at Euro 2024 – was instead a case study in uber fame.
Pitch invaders, lookalikes and a slide tackle: 90 minutes with Cristiano Ronaldo
The Cristiano Ronaldo circus provokes a serious question over Portugal’s Euro 2024 hopes
19:20 , Chris Wilson
Here’s the report from Portugal’s second game...
As one man took centre stage in a circus, a properly serious team got on with the business of convincingly winning football matches around him. Is this to be the story of Portugal at Euro 2024?
Perhaps it really is the sign of a new team that, as a goal stood at Cristiano Ronaldo’s mercy, he shockingly passed for another player to score. It wasn’t the only moment where he threw back the years. There was also the moment when he beat a defender with a step-over to cross, something he hasn’t actually done in maybe a decade.
For all that, such contributions were largely at the fringes of a game, which was already won by the Selecao’s more influential modern players, though there is no doubting the main event of Roberto Martinez’s side.
After Ronaldo had passed for Bruno Fernandes to make it 3-0 against Turkey and secure top spot in the group, all of the players ran to the provider rather than scorer, the 39-year-old’s arms aloft. The Portuguese crowd sang his name more than anyone else.
Even the Turkish crowd, who deafeningly booed every opposition player when the teams were read out, stopped to raucously cheer the No 7. It was maybe a sign of what was to come. For all the hysterical noise Turkey made, some of it on the pitch, they were all too easily quietened.
The Ronaldo circus provokes a serious question over Portugal’s Euro 2024 hopes
Group F permutations
19:15 , Chris Wilson
Having had a look at the standings, here’s a look at what each team needs to qualify.
Portugal: Are through as group winners with a game to spare. Portugal will play one of the four best third-placed teams in Frankfurt on Monday 1 July in the last-16.
Turkey: A heavy defeat to Portugal was a blow to Turkey’s goal difference but they can advance with a win over Czech Republic. A draw would be fine, too, and will be good enough for second place if Georgia fail to beat Portugal. Turkey would be knocked out if they lose to Czech Republic and Georgia beat Portugal.
Czechia: Will go through if they beat Turkey, either in second or as one of the best third-placed teams, with no other result good enough. If Czech Republic win and better Georgia’s result, they will finish second.
Georgia: They must beat Portugal. If Georgia and Czech Republic both win, it would go down to goal difference, with the Czechs currently one ahead. If Turkey win or draw, a Georgia win would only be enough for third, but it would be enough to go through as one of the best third-placed sides.
Euro 2024 group permutations and third-place standings explained
Group F standings
19:10 , Chris Wilson
Ahead of the line-ups being released, here’s a reminder of how Group F stands as we head into tonight’s game.
1 (Q) - Portugal - 6 points, GD +4
2 - Turkey - 3 points, GD -1
3 - Czech Republic, 1 point, GD -1
4 - Georgia, 1 point, GD -2
Line-ups
19:00 , Chris Wilson
GEORGIA XI: Mamardashvili; Gvelesiani, Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze, Kochorashvili, Chakvetadze, Kiteishvili , Lochoshvilli; Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia.
PORTUGAL XI: Costa, Silva, Pereira, Inacio; Dalot, Neves, Palhinha, Neto; Conceicao, Ronaldo, Felix.
Team news
18:47 , Chris Wilson
Team news should be arriving at any moment now. Will Portugal make plenty of changes in a similar way to how Spain did in their win over Albania? Or will Roberto Martinez copy Julian Nagelsmann’s mantra of playing a foul-strength eleven in order to keep chemistry, fitness and form?
You’d expect Georgia to line up in a similar way to their first two games, with the only question mark being whether Chakvetadze comes back into the starting line-up.
Georgia to rally round Saba Lobjanidze after nightmare miss in Euro 2024 draw
18:38 , Chris Wilson
Saba Lobjanidze missed a chance to write his name into Georgia’s sporting folklore in Saturday’s Euro 2024 clash with the Czech Republic, blazing the final kick of the game over the crossbar with only the goalkeeper to beat as the match ended 1-1.
It will be the stuff of recurring nightmares for Lobjanidze, who should have won the contest for the tournament newcomers and put them on course for a place in the last 16 at the first time of asking.
In a breakaway move in the last seconds of stoppage time, Giorgi Chakvetadze steamed down the pitch, outstripping the chasing Czech defenders, before slipping the ball to Lobjanidze who looked certain to secure a famous victory for his country.
His shot was well struck, but the 29-year-old substitute lent back a little and sent it over the bar to the disbelief of all, especially the huge contingent of white and red clad Georgian supporters.
The final whistle sounded almost immediately, adding to the horror of the miss, for a 1-1 draw that left both teams struggling to advance from Group F.
Georgia to rally round Saba Lobjanidze after nightmare miss in Euro 2024 draw
Brawls, biblical rain and wonder goals: How Turkey vs Georgia turned Euro 2024 upside down
18:30 , Chris Wilson
Here’s a reminder of Georgia’s opening game, which will likely go down in Euros folklore...
You’d be forgiven for having earmarked Turkey vs Georgia as the most low-key fixture of the Euro 2024 group stage. After all, the combined ranking of the teams was the most modest at the tournament so far, and Georgia entered Group F with no European Championship experience to their name. This game, though? It turned into something far beyond a football match.
Perhaps that should have been evident in the hours before kick-off. Biblical rain and severe weather warnings led German authorities to encourage fans without tickets to stay inside, and to watch the match at home if possible. The elements were deemed a threat to the safety of supporters, before their safety was even threatened by fan violence inside the BVB Stadium in Dortmund.
But when that violence began, as water spilt through the roof of the arena and fans spilt from their seats to attack one another, questions arose. Would the game go ahead, and if it were to, would it even resemble a football match?
To say the tension could be cut with a knife would be to give unnecessary credit to knives. You could have lacerated the tension with a balloon.
It felt as though everything could come crashing down at any moment, courtesy of the slightest move or even thought. It felt as if a foul on the pitch could incite a riot, such was the air of hostility, yet thankfully the violence in the stands did seem to have subsided by kick-off.
Brawls, biblical rain and wonder goals: Turkey vs Georgia turns Euro 2024 upside down
Portugal face familiar Cristiano Ronaldo questions which will define their Euro 2024 journey
18:20 , Chris Wilson
Lothar Matthaus is 63 now. And if that may depress those who remember him in his dominant prime, let alone those who conjure images of him as German football’s wunderkind of the early 1980s, it has an added pertinence. He played in the last European Championship that did not feature Cristiano Ronaldo.
There are other ways of illustrating Ronaldo’s age, of course: Francisco Conceicao, scored of the late winner in the first game of Ronaldo’s sixth such tournament, was one year old when played in his first and is the son of a rival for a berth on the flanks, in Sergio Conceicao. His first goal for his country came in a European Championship. So did Ronaldo’s, but they were separated by two decades.
Longevity can be an achievement in itself. Ronaldo’s feats are measured more in goals but the simple fact that, 20 years on, he is still there is a feat. He has become the great constant of tournament football, up to 11 in a row, with the possibility he may yet make it a dozen in the 2026 World Cup. There is a sense Ronaldo, with his chiselled physique, thinks ageing is for mere mortals.
His next birthday is his 40th and he has scored 50 goals in club football this season; in the Saudi league, admittedly, but factor in his 10 strikes in European Championship qualifying and his appetite remains unsated. If the 2022 World Cup suggested his could be an undignified departure from international football, he has since staged a comeback: a substitute in Qatar has been reinvented as a Portugal starter in Germany.
At some stage, though, Roberto Martinez will face the same dilemma that confronted Fernando Santos: whether Ronaldo retains that status.
Portugal face familiar Ronaldo questions which will define their Euros journey
Record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged as Portugal find the formula for Euro 2024 glory
18:10 , Chris Wilson
Here’s the first match report from Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo spans the generations. He in effect replaced Sergio Conceicao in the Portugal squad two decades ago. Twenty years on, as Ronaldo set his latest record, Sergio’s son Francisco Conceicao proved Portugal’s rescuer, upstaging even the old master, providing the sort of dramatic late winner that has long been the 39-year-old’s trademark.
Roberto Martinez, unusually timid initially, had gambled after seeing a Diogo Jota goal disallowed and made a triple change on 90 minutes.
On, along with Nelson Semedo, came Pedro Neto and Conceicao. The two wingers had barely entered the game when they decided it. Neto’s cross was blocked but not cleared by the luckless Robin Hranac and fell for Conceicao to drive in. If nothing else, it was proof of Portugal’s immense depth of talent.
An eventful evening for Ronaldo became a victorious one for Portugal – by accident or design? They could certainly thank Hranac, who scored an own goal and set up the winner. They were supplied with a shock when Lukas Provod put Czechia ahead; his was the goal of the game, but it did not decide the game.
Record-breaking Ronaldo upstaged as Portugal find the formula for Euro 2024 glory
Ukraine v Belgium LIVE: Latest build up and teams news ahead of key Group E clash
18:00 , Chris Wilson
Today’s 5pm kick-offs see the conclusion of Group E, where each team began the day on three points and with plenty of hope of making the last 16.
The second halves are underway in those games, and you can follow them with The Independent’s dedicated blog below.
Ukraine v Belgium LIVE: Latest build up and teams news ahead of key Group E clash
Predicted line-ups & score prediction
17:50 , Chris Wilson
Portugal XI: Sa, Semedo, Silva, Inacio, Dalot, Nevez, Nunes, Conceicao, Felix, Jota, Ramos
Georgia XI: Mamardashvili; Kverkveliya, Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze, Mekvabishvili, Kochorashvili, Tsitaishvili; Davitashvili, Kvaratskhelia; Mikautadze
Despite the expected changes Portugal’s manager Roberto Martinez is expected to make ahead of the game, with their confidence and experience they will still win comfortably. Georgia 0-2 Portugal
Early teams news
17:40 , Chris Wilson
Portugal might be tempted to ring in the changes having already qualified for the knockout stages top of Group F and will be without Rafael Leao who is banned. Joao Palhinha and Francisco Conceicao are both one booking away from a one-game suspension.
Georgia on the other hand are likely to stick with the team that secured a draw against the Czech Republic.
Georgia v Portugal TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online tonight
17:25 , Chris Wilson
The match will kick off at 8pm BST at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen.
It will be shown live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 7.15pm, and will also be streamed via the ITVX website and app.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Georgia v Portugal TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 match
17:15 , Chris Wilson
Portugal have already secured their place at the top of Euro 2024 Group F when they eased to victory over Turkey but will take on Georgia in the final group game.
Turkey were beaten 3-0 when Portugal, spearheaded by Cristiano Ronaldo for the second successive game, showed their superior quality. Although the match was marred by four pitch invaders who bypassed security guards to try and get pictures with Ronaldo, with two more attempting to follow suit after the final whistle.
Georgia still hold onto an outside chance of reaching the knockouts in their first European Championship, but they would need to beat Portugal and also hope the Czech Republic beat Turkey. Should both those things happen it would come down to overall goal difference between Georgia and the Czech team.
Ronaldo received praise for his decision to pass the ball for Bruno Fernandes in the game against Turkey, but his image remains bigger than that of the Portuguese team and it is likely to follow the team as far as they go in the tournament.
Euro 2024: Georgia v Portugal
17:00 , Chris Wilson
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Georgia vs Portugal in the final round of games in Group F.
Kick-off is at 8pm BST, with Georgia looking to spring a surprise result against a Portugal side that has already won the group.
