Georgia will need to pull off an incredible victory over Portugal this evening if they are to remain in Euro 2024.
The eastern European minnows have one point from their opening two games and must win here.
Their opponents have already qualified as group winners, so they could make a host of changes ahead of the knockout stages.
This would leave the door open for Willy Sagnol’s team to pull off a major shock.
Meanwhile, Portugal know that whatever happens, they will face a third-place team in the next round.
Georgia vs Portugal: Date and how to follow
This Group F clash will take place on Wednesday, June 26.
Kick-off at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen is scheduled for 8pm UK time.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of the game, with commentary coming from Ian Danter and former England striker Darren Bent.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Plus, the match will be shown free-to-air on ITV 1.
- This is just the second ever meeting between Georgia and Portugal – Portugal won 2-0 in a May 2008 friendly.
- Portugal have qualified for the knockout stages in all nine of their appearances at the UEFA European Championship, extending the best such 100% record in the history of the competition.
- Georgia are waiting for the first major tournament victory (D1 L1) – the only European side whose first win at a World Cup/EURO tournament came against Portugal is Greece, who beat them 2-1 at EURO 2004 en route to winning the trophy.
Georgia vs Portugal: Team news and latest squads
Georgia have no injury concerns and could name the same starting XI that drew with Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez will be forced into at least one change, with Rafael Leao banned for picking up two yellow cards, which were both for simulation.
Pedro Neto is expected to come in for the AC Milan star.
Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to score, but he could see Goncalo Ramos replace him, while 41-year-old Pepe is also in line for a rest.
Joao Palhinha and Francisco Conceicao are also one booking away from a suspension and could be left on the bench.
Plus, Diogo Jota missed training on Monday, so he’s doubtful.
Georgia squad
- Goalkeepers: Luka Gugeshashvili (Qarabağ), Giorgi Loria (Dinamo Tbilisi), Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia)
- Defenders: Lasha Dvali (APOEL), Giorgi Gocholeishvili (Shakhtar Donetsk), Giorgi Gvelesiani (Persepolis), Otar Kakabadze (Cracovia), Guram Kashia (Slovan Bratislava), Solomon Kverkvelia (Al-Okhdood), Luka Lochoshvili (Cremonese), Jemal Tabidze (Panetolikos)
- Midfielders: Sandro Altunashvili (Wolfsberger), Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford), Zuriko Davitashvili (Bordeaux), Otar Kiteishvili (Sturm Graz), Giorgi Kochorashvili (Levante), Nika Kvekveskiri (Lech Poznań), Saba Lobjanidze (Atlanta United), Anzor Mekvabishvili (Universitatea Craiova), Gabriel Sigua (Basel), Levan Shengelia (Panetolikos), Giorgi Tsitaishvili (Dinamo Batumi)
- Forwards: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Giorgi Kvilitaia (APOEL), Georges Mikautadze (Metz), Budu Zivzivadze (Karlsruhe)
Portugal squad
- Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Rui Patrício (Roma), José Sá (Wolves)
- Defenders: João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP), Nuno Mendes (Paris), Pepe (Porto), Nélson Semedo (Wolves), António Silva (Benfica)
- Midfielders: Danilo (Paris), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Pedro Neto (Wolves), João Neves (Benfica), Rúben Neves (Al-Hilal), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), João Palhinha (Fulham), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (Paris)
- Forwards: Francisco Conceição (Porto), João Félix (Barcelona), Diogo Jota (Liverpool), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), Gonçalo Ramos (Paris), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
- Portugal have won both of their group stage games so far at EURO 2024, more than they had across the 2016 and 2020 editions combined (W1 D4 L1). Only in EURO 2000 have they ever won all three group stages at a single EURO tournament.
- Across the first two matchdays of EURO 2024, Georgia faced more shots (49), more shots on target (20) and had a higher xG against figure (6.1) than any other side. However, Giorgi Mamardashvili made more saves (16) and had a higher xGoT prevented figure (+3.05) than any other goalkeeper in the first two matchdays, conceding just four goals (excl. own goals) despite facing an xGoT of 7.05.
- Portugal have benefitted from an own goal in both of their games so far at EURO 2024 – only Spain in the 2020 edition have benefitted more at a single EURO tournament (3), while no team has ever done so in three consecutive games at the finals before.
Georgia vs Portugal: What has been said?
During Portugal’s 3-0 win over Turkey, Ronaldo was approached by six pitch invaders.
The first was a young child but after that, it turned into a shambles, and talkSPORT host Adrian Durham believes it is cause for concern.
He said: “I’ve got to say, there were fans running onto the pitch to get a selfie with Ronaldo at the start of the first Portuguese game.
“Fans running on the pitch at the end of the second, I think we all knew that was likely to happen or fans were likely to try and do that before the tournament even started.
“It will be nice if UEFA and security in each of the stadia could just wise up to what’s going on because there’s a real fear one of those fans could get close to him and then the worst case scenario is absolutely unthinkable.
“These fans are getting as close to him as they want and it’s got to stop, hasn’t it?”
- Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has played 49 matches across the European Championship (27) and World Cup (22) combined. He could be the first European player in history to make 50 major tournament appearances.
- Both of Georgia’s goals at the UEFA European Championship so far have been scored by Georges Mikautadze. Only Gerd Müller (Germany) and Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria) have netted each of a side’s first three goals in the competition.
- Bruno Fernandes has been directly involved in 28 goals in his last 23 appearances for Portugal in all competitions, scoring 15 and assisting 13.
- Across the opening two matchdays of EURO 2024, Portugal’s Vitinha won more fouls (7) than any other player. He won three fouls against Czechia on MD1 and four against Türkiye last time out; the last player to win 3+ fouls in all three group stage games in a single edition of the finals was Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak in 2016 (something Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could also do in 2024), while the last to do so for Portugal was Luís Figo in 2004.
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News Summary:
- Georgia vs Portugal LIVE commentary: Kick-off time, score, line-ups and Euro 2024 match preview as minnows look to pull off huge shock
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