Georgia is a country located on the border between Europe and Asia. Formerly a Soviet republic, it is characterized by small villages in the Caucasus Mountains and the beaches of the Black Sea. The country is known for this. Vardziaa large rock-hewn monastery that dates back to the 12th century, and the ancient wine region of Kakheti.
Until last night.
This small nation, which has as many inhabitants as Tuscany, or rather 17,000 fewer, has been famous since last night for having reached the round of 16 of the 2024 European Football Championship by beating Portugal 2-0. The Georgian journalist. Considering Lobyanidze he told BBC 5, in the grip of uncontrollable euphoria: “What happened is incredible. There was a similar experience last March when Georgia qualified for the European Championship, but this one is infinitely superior. No one will sleep in Tbilisi tonight. »
Just like the Georgians were not sleeping a few months ago when they took to the streets to protest against the repressive pro-Russian laws and loudly demanded a rapprochement with Europe. The correspondents remember some signs from the demonstrators on the square after the national team's access to the European Championships. “We went to the Europeans, now let’s go to Europe”. Access to the championship and this victory are therefore also linked to that of the demonstrators who succeeded in obtaining from the government the withdrawal of these laws.
Rai Georgia: 50,000 people in the rain against “Russian law”. The protest signs also read: “We went to the European Championships, now let's go to Europe”
It took a long time for the Georgian Football Federation to find its place in Europe. However, this Soviet Republic at the time was defined as the place of republics where football was played like in Brazil.
An official fan guide released for the Dinamo Tbilisi in 1960 depicted the stars of Soviet Georgia's main football team in stylized sketches that showed them singing while performing acrobatic leaps toward the ball. The guide's illustrators deliberately linked Georgian football with the explosive, colorful and competitive style of men's folk dancing for which the small republic was famous throughout the Soviet Union. On a page, Avtandil Ghoghoberidzethe team's striker, was photographed performing the card, a Georgian wedding dance, hands outstretched, balancing on the ball. At all times, the guide suggested that the dazzling techniques of Georgian football and the ethnically distinctive movements of Georgian dance were aspects of the same national repertoire of body culture. The intimate association between football and dance worked both ways. Around the same time the guide was published, the Georgian State Dance Ensemble presented a piece whose playful choreography featured ball passing between dancers.
document online Dinamo Tbilisi fans' guide to the 1960s: Team forward Avtandil Ghoghoberidze was photographed performing the kartuli on a ball
Today, the Football Federation of this former Soviet Republic which dreams of Europe has truly found a piece of Europe. In this team with unpronounceable names which, as a colleague says, seem to be excellent unbreakable passwords for wifi, there are many from Europe, in fact, someone is very close to Italy. The big protagonist last night was the Naples star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who unlocked the result after just two minutes.
“It’s the happiest day in the life of Georgian fans. We made history, no one believed we could beat Portugal, but that's why we are a strong team, even if there is only a 1% chance, we showed that we can. to do”, explained the Napoli player. “Before the match I met Ronaldo and he wished me success; I never imagined he would come and talk to me. He's a great player and a great person. He has a great personality inside and outside football, I have so much respect for him, he is one of the best players in the world,” he added. The Scudetto with Naples “was a memorable moment for me, but I'm happier today because playing for your country makes you so proud, although I'm happy for both. It's the most beautiful day of my life. Winning the scudetto was my dream and that was my dream too.”
gettyimages EURO24 – advantage goal for Georgia with Naples player Kvaratskhelia
We said surprise. Never qualified for the World Cup, never participated in the Olympics, never at the Confederation Cup. This year, for the first time, she managed to reach the final phase of the European Championships. However, among the Georgian players in the national team there are players who play in prestigious foreign leagues.
Giorgi Mamardashvili he is the goalkeeper of Valencia, Otar Kiteishvili Sturm Graz midfielder, Giorgi Chakvetadze in the English Premier League and, as we said, the Napoli striker Khvicha K'varatskhelia. And, at least for now, Georgia also leads the European scoring charts. Georges Mikautadze is in the lead, with three goals scored, one for each match in the final phase. He too is a star: French footballer naturalized Georgian, striker for Metz, on loan from Ajax.
And while we are still not sleeping in Tbilisi, the supporters are already dreaming of a new miracle. Access to neighborhoods.
GettyImages Euro2024, Georgia vs Portugal: Georgia's 2-0 goal scored from the penalty spot by Georges Mikautadze
