UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying: Georgia defeat Greece 4-2 on penalties to reach first ever major tournament
Georgia qualified for Euro 2024 with a 4-2 shootout victory over Greece following a tense playoff final that ended 0-0 after extra time on Tuesday, making history by reaching their first major tournament.
Georgia substitute Nika Kvekveskiri converted his spot kick after Greece's Giorgos Giakoumakis missed his penalty, sending the home crowd wild as their team advanced to the final.
Georgia will compete in Group F alongside Portugal, Turkey, and the Czech Republic at the Euros in Germany, which begin on June 14.
Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Greece's first attempt from Anastasios Bakasetas after the hosts had taken the lead in the shootout, but when Georgia's Georges Mikautadze missed his spot kick, the Greeks were given new hope.
Giakoumakis, on the other hand, sent Greece's fourth penalty past the post, leaving Georgia's Kvekveskiri as the hero after keeping his cool and slotting his right-foot kick into the net.
"Some did not believe in us but now they will believe it. We are happy. I have never had such an emotion in my life," Georgia talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia told 1TV Sport.
The home crowd enjoyed watching Georgia defeat Luxembourg 2-0 in the playoff semi-final last Thursday, but they had to endure Tuesday's shootout before celebrating like never before.
Manager Willy Sagnol made one change from the Luxembourg win, with key forward Kvaratskhelia returning from suspension, while Greece's Gus Poyet named the same team that defeated Kazakhstan 5-0 in the semi-finals.
The game was scrappy and nerve-racking, with few opportunities in normal time. On the stroke of halftime, tempers flared as both benches spilled onto the pitch, and Georgia's substitute keeper, Giorgi Loria, was shown a red card.
Fouls on Kvaratskhelia resulted in three bookings for Greek defenders in the first half, but the influential forward was injured in extra time and had to watch his teammates win the shootout.
The game came to life near the end of the first period of extra time, with Georgian goalkeeper Mamardashvili diving to save a shot from Bakasetas and Greece's Konstantinos Mavropanos hitting the crossbar with a header.
Georgia then had a chance to win when Georges Mikautadze passed to Zuriko Davitashvili on the edge of the six-yard box, but his close-range shot was saved by Odysseas Vlachodimos, and penalties appeared inevitable.
Before the game, the enthusiastic home crowd displayed a banner that read "Breaking news, Georgia make history," and they could proudly wave it when Kvekveskiri's decisive penalty hit the back of the net, sending their team to Germany.
Georgia lost a Euro 2020 playoff in Tbilisi to North Macedonia, but this time the ecstatic home fans were on the pitch celebrating as their team finally made it to a major tournament at the 15th attempt.
"Thanks to the Georgian fans," Kvaratskhelia said. "I've played in many stadiums but I haven't seen such support anywhere. You were the most important factor."
Greece won the European Championship in 2004, but their last appearance in a major tournament was at the 2014 World Cup. They have now failed to qualify for the previous two World Cups and three European Championships.
SportsLigue