Georgia‘s UEFA Under-21 European Championship journey has been nothing short of dramatic, with both of their opening Group C fixtures featuring injury-time goals. They edged out Poland with a late winner in their opener but suffered a crushing reversal on Saturday, conceding twice after the 89th minute to fall 3-2 to France, a result that denied them early qualification to the knockout stage.
Despite the sting of that collapse, Ramaz Svanadze’s side remain masters of their own destiny. Victory against Portugal on Tuesday in Žilina will send them through to the quarter-finals, but nothing less will suffice. It’s a high-stakes repeat of the 2023 Euros meeting between these two nations, when Georgia triumphed 2-0 on home soil in Tbilisi, a result that saw them top Group A.
Portugal also progressed from that group two years ago but failed to build on their 2021 run to the final, falling 1-0 to eventual champions England in the quarter-finals. Now leading Group C after two commanding displays, the Esperanças need only a point to guarantee progression, and they could secure top spot depending on France’s result against Poland.
Rui Jorge’s men arrive in top form. Having conceded in each of their six pre-tournament friendlies, Portugal have opened the group stage with back-to-back clean sheets, including a 5-0 dismantling of Poland last time out. A 4-0 lead at the break allowed Jorge to rest key players, making three half-time substitutions in a display of squad depth that could prove vital as the tournament wears on.
Georgia, meanwhile, may look to Vasilios Gordeziani for added impact. The forward has impressed off the bench, contributing a goal and an assist across the opening two matches, and could be handed a start in their must-win clash. Portugal’s Geovany Quenda also shone in their last outing, scoring twice and assisting once before being substituted at half-time, a performance that underlines his growing influence on this side.
Hot stat: Georgia have scored exactly two goals in four of their last five group stage matches at the Euros, a trend they may need to continue, and better, if they are to keep their knockout hopes alive.
