LEIPZIG, Germany — Georgia fans in homes, restaurants and a packed Tbilisi stadium were still beaming with pride over their team’s achievements at Euro 2024 despite a 4-1 last-16 defeat by Spain that saw them exit the tournament.
“It’s sad we lost, but we played with dignity. And we never expected to get this far,” said Iakob Beridze, 35, a civil servant with a Georgia flag round his neck watching the game with his family and 25 000 others at the Mikheil Meskhi stadium.
The Euros’ lowest-ranked team, from a nation of 3.7 million people, lit up the early stages of the tournament and secured passage into the knockout phase at their first major finals with a huge upset win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
The fairy-tale appeared to be continuing early on against Spain – ranked 66 places higher – when Georgia went ahead through an own goal. It was the first time Spain, among the favourites to win the trophy, had conceded at the tournament.
That triggered fireworks in the capital back home.
Spain, though, was too strong and came back to win. However, that did not stop Georgia receiving an emotional ovation from tens of thousands of fans in Germany and plenty of plaudits at home after going so far beyond expectations.
“Thanks to the boys for the joy they brought to Georgian fans,” said Kakha Kaladze, mayor of Tbilisi and a former AC Milan player. “The whole world knows that Georgia is a nation that fights to the end for victory.”
On the streets, where football fever has briefly quelled political protests, fans shouted “Long Live Georgia!” and sang patriotic songs. Cars drove round the capital draped in national flags and horns were beeping long into the night.
“We’re a bit sad because we lost. But I’m sure in some days we will realise what we have done and I’m sure happiness is going to come back very quickly,” said coach Willy Sagnol.
The lowest-ranked team at the tournament, at their first major finals, defied all expectations to progress from their group after sparkling performances including a shock win over a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.
“You have to take some time to sit and look at what you have done. I think we can sit in peace and quiet and everyone can be very happy at the last year, because the evolution of the team, the squad, has been absolutely fantastic,” said Sagnol.
“I’m very proud of what the players have done in the last months. Now it’s the end of a journey, but I’m sure the next one will also be very exciting.”
Remarkably, Georgia went in front against Spain, ranked 66 places higher, when Robin Le Normand scored an own goal. However, Spain fought back and equalised before the break.
“To take the lead, it was our first offensive situation, but I think if at halftime we had still led 1-0, we would have had a bit more energy for the second half,” he said, also lamenting an injury to talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“But in the large spectrum, Spain deserved the win, there’s no doubt about it.”
When the dust settles, Georgia’s next focus will be on getting back to another big tournament, the coach said.
“I think it will take some days to realise because I think it was such a fantastic team and group performance … We worked so hard to get here, we will try our hardest to come back to another major tournament,” he said.
“We are so happy and proud of what we have done in the last days, the last weeks … Everything has been such a great experience. I think tomorrow morning everyone will want only one thing – to come back.”
