Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has made headlines with his revelation of a pre-match conversation with Cristiano Ronaldo, which he attributes to inspiring his team to an unexpected 2-0 victory against Portugal at Euro 2024. This win secured their qualification for the round of 16, marking a historic achievement for Georgia in their debut appearance at a major tournament.
Kvaratskhelia, still elated from the match, expressed his disbelief at their victory but credited the team’s unwavering belief. He expressed his admiration for Ronaldo, whom he considered his childhood idol, and the unexpected encouragement he received from him before the game. “If there’s even a 1% chance, we’ve shown we can make it happen,” he stated.
The 23-year-old, a previous winner of Italy’s Serie A with Napoli in 2023, described their victory over Portugal as the best day of his life, surpassing even the memorable moment of winning the Scudetto. “This is the happiest day of my life; winning the title was my dream and this was my dream as well,” he shared.
Georgia coach Willy Sagnol admitted that the team had not believed they had qualified until the final whistle, comparing the situation to the 1999 Champions League final comeback between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. The Frenchman emphasized the unpredictability of football and how stories unfold in unexpected ways.
Despite making eight changes to his team, Portugal coach Roberto Martínez denied underestimating Georgia and acknowledged the significance of their historic opportunity to qualify for the last 16. He praised Georgia’s goalkeeper, Mamardashvili, for his outstanding performance and affirmed that the victory was well-deserved for Georgia.
As a result of their victory, Georgia has advanced as one of the four best-ranked third-placed teams at the tournament, setting up a meeting with Spain in the knockout stages. Portugal, already assured of their place in the next round, will face Slovenia with a reinforced lineup including Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, and Bruno Fernandes.
In a remarkable turn of events, Turkey also secured their spot in the last 16 by defeating Czechia and will now face Austria in the next round. The Euro 2024 tournament continues to unfold with unexpected results and thrilling matches, showcasing the unpredictable nature of football.