Georgia secured their place in Euro 2024 on Tuesday by winning their play-off against Greece 4-2 on penalties, following a 0-0 draw after extra time, marking their first-ever major tournament finals appearance.
Nika Kvekveskiri scored the important penalty during the shootout, leading to fans invading the pitch at the Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi, after Greece's Tasos Bakasetas and Giorgos Giakoumakis missed their penalties.
After causing a surprise by winning the European championship in 2004, Greece's defeat means they will have to wait longer for their next major tournament qualification since the 2014 World Cup.
Ranked 77th globally, Georgia will be placed in Group F at the European Championship in Germany in June with Turkey, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.
This will be their first appearance at a major tournament since Georgia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Georgia had never come close to qualifying before but lost in a play-off at the same stage in the last Euro qualifiers, suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to North Macedonia in 2020.
Despite finishing fourth out of five teams in their qualifying group, they managed to secure two wins against the bottom side Cyprus.
Their previous performances in the UEFA Nations League allowed them to advance via the play-offs, and they defeated Luxembourg at home in the semi-finals to set up Tuesday's decisive match.
Led by former France international Willy Sagnol, Georgia's star player is Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Kvaratskhelia did not participate in the penalty shootout as he was substituted in extra time during a game with few scoring opportunities.
The closest Greece came to scoring was when defender Konstantinos Mavropanos hit the bar in extra time.
However, Greece's captain Bakasetas saw his penalty, the first in the shootout, saved by Georgia's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia.
Georges Mikautadze missed for Georgia, leaving both teams level until Giakoumakis of Atlanta United missed Greece's fourth kick, allowing Kvekveskiri to score the winning goal.
PUNCH Online notes that the UEFA EURO 2024 will start in Munich, Germany, on Friday, June 14, and culminate with the final in Berlin on Sunday, July 14, 2024.
AFP
