Patrik Schick scores equaliser from close range after Georges Mikautadze opened the scoring with a penalty as both sides are left waiting for their first win at Euro 2024.
Match Events
49' Penalty Goal! Georgia 1-0 Czech (Georges Mikautadze)
59' GOAL! Georgia 1-1 Czech (Patrik Schick)
Match Report
As a sea of white Georgian shirts rose in unison behind the goal, expectant eyes focused on Saba Lobjanidze.
The man who had the goal at his mercy. The man who could be the matchwinner in Georgia’s first ever triumph at the Euros. The man with a chance to become a national hero.
But ultimately, the weight of a nation proved too much and Lobjanidze was the man who squandered the opportunity of a lifetime.
Still, that sea of white took the opportunity to salute their heroes when the final whistle sounded seconds after Lobjanidze’s miss.
How Willy Sagnol’s players deserved that reception after running themselves into the ground and holding onto a point against the Czech Republic. It means the lowest ranked team at this year’s competition are still alive and kicking.
Georgia caught the eye with their bravery on the ball in their group opener against Turkey before eventually falling to a 3-1 defeat. You wondered whether that energy-sapping loss might lead to a hangover in Hamburg.
But, for 50 minutes or so, it was more of the same against the Czechs and it briefly looked as though they would be rewarded for their endeavour.
Fortune seemed to favour them too. First, VAR ruled out Adam Hlozek’s goal after he looked to have given the Czech Republic the lead. The technology showed that the final touch had in fact come from Hlozek's hand.
Georgia were given another helping hand by VAR on the stroke of half-time. Captain Guram Kashia squandered a great chance after being denied by the feet of Czech Republic goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek from close range, but further inspection revealed the ball had clearly struck the arm of defender Robin Hranac on its way through to Kashia.
Georges Mikautadze made no mistake from the penalty spot and was soon hoisted into the air and over the shoulder of a relieved Kashia.
The Georgians never stopped battling but soon they found themselves running on empty. Most of the second half resembled a training ground game of attack versus defence.
It was at set-pieces where they looked most vulnerable and it told when substitute Ondrej Lingr headed Vladimir Coufal’s delivery onto the post, leaving Patrik Schick with a simple tap-in to become his nation’s leading goalscorer at the Euros.
Schick was forced off soon after with a calf injury, but that didn’t stop his team-mates from pushing on for an equaliser. Their 12 shots on Mamardashvili's goal is the most a side has ever had in a game they failed to win in Euros history.
And yet it was Georgia who so nearly won it five minutes into injury time. Watford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze led the break, three Georgian attackers to only one Czech defender. He laid it on a plate for Lobjanidze, but he was unable to provide the finishing touch.
Line-ups
Georgia XI: Guram Kashia, Kverkvelia, Otar Kakabadze, Lasha Dvali, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Zuriko Davitashvili, Georgiy Tsitaishvili, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Georges Mikautadze, Anzor Mekvabishvili
Subs: Giorgi Loria, Nika Kvekveskiri, Giorgi Gvelesiani, Budu Zivzivadze, Giorgi Kvilitaia, Saba Lobjanidze, Jemal Tabidze, Levan Shengelia, Luka Lochoshvili, Otar Kiteishvili, Sandro Altunashvili, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Giorgi Gocholeishvili, Luka Gugeshashvili, Gabriel Sigua
Czech XI: Vladimír Coufal, Tomas Holes, Schick, Vaclav Cerny, Jindrich Stanek, Lukas Provod, Soucek, Ladislav Krejci, Robin Hranac, Adam Hlozek, David Jurásek
Subs: Tomas Chory, Petr Sevcik, Barak, Jan Kuchta, Ondrej Lingr, David Doudera, Kovar, Vitezslav Jaros, Pavel Sulc, Tomas Vlcek, David Zima, Mojmír Chytil, Matej Jurasek, Martin Vitík, Lukas Cerv