The teams of Turkey and Georgia, with opposing streaks, face each other this Tuesday in the match that opens group F in the Euro 2024 in Dortmund.
The preludes to the match have been marked on the one hand by several incidents. On the one hand, due to the heavy rain, which stopped in time for the match to start normally thanks to the good drainage of the Westfalenstadion. And on the other hand, due to a fight in the stands between followers of the two teams.
Halftime was tied 1-1. Türkiye took the lead with a great volley goal by Mert Müldür and Georgia tied with a goal from Georges Mikautadze after a great assist from Kochorashvili. In addition, the VAR annulled a goal by Turkish Kenan Yildiz for offside.
The preview: Beware of the debutant
After closing an incredible 2023 with only two defeats (against Croatia in the qualifying phase and against Japan in a friendly), Turkey lands in Germany without knowing victory so far in 2024. The debutante Georgia will want to take advantage of the Turks’ poor form to score their first three points in Euro 2024.
Until achieving passage to Germany, Georgia did not know what it was like to dispute a great national team tournament. It had never been classified neither to a World Cup, nor to a European Championship. This changed last March with the victory on penalties against Greece, so we will be able to see familiar faces like Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia CF) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (SSC Naples) at Euro 2024.
The presence of Georgia is especially striking, because it was penultimate in the qualifying phase (in Group A along with Spain), but the sum of eight points earned them the chance to compete in the playoff playoffs, where Mamardashvili became the national hero.
Türkiye’s nostalgia in 2008
Opposite, Türkiye participates for the third consecutive time in a European Championship final phase. The last time the Ottoman team advanced from the group stage was in the year 2008where they perplexed all of Europe, reaching the semi-finals.
More than three decades later, they arrive in Germany with a young team, and led by an old acquaintance of the Spanish benches: Vincenzo Montella, who coached Sevilla FC in the 17/18 season for just four months. The Italian will be in charge of taking Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz and company to the next level.
The match can be followed live on RTVE Play. And then, the other group F match between Portugal and the Czech Republic.
