Intensity, goal plays and a Giorgi Mamardashvili exceptional were the condiments of a 1-1 draw between Georgia and Czech Republic that leaves little flavor. Both close Group F, with one point, after the second date of the Euro 2024.
The Georgian goalkeeper prevented a much deeper Czech team from taking the lead and then taking the game, which can be seen again on Star+ (only for South America).
Despite the superiority of the Czech Republic, the first half of the match ended with Georgia 1-0, thanks to a penalty goal by Georges Mikautadze, validated by the intervention of the VAR. Patrick Schick He was the one who put up the final numbers, which leave both teams with just one point.
The match was captivating from the opening whistle: after 2 minutes, Mamardashvili had to make a great double save and the Georgian response immediately came. This is how the game was set up. Czech Republic on the attack, across the entire width of the field and Georgia, waiting for the counterattackrelying mainly on its star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
As the minutes passed, the team led by Ivan Hašek made a clear difference, turning the rival goalkeeper into a clear figure, with many arrivals and shots on goal (a difference of 12 to 5 in total). Therefore, the fact that those led by Gabriel Sigua went into the break with an advantage was somewhat unfair. And the VAR had an impact that, although in both cases intervention was correct.
At 21 minutes, Adam Hlozek had scored what was going to be the Czech 1-0, with an uneven action between the striker and Mamardashvili: first the striker’s shot, which hit the goalkeeper, the rebound in the attacker’s face, which also hit the goalkeeper and went into the net. But then, the review determined that the ball hit the Czech’s arm and everything was nullified.
And, at 45 minutes, Georgia was looking for a set piece goal, the resource it used the most, when the rival took over the offensive actions. After a corner and Václav Cerný’s shot, which Jindrich Stanek prevented from being a goal, the VAR appeared again to warn of a handball by Robin Hranác (which was involuntary, but expanded the volume) and the judge awarded the penalty for Georgia. Georges Mikautadze was in charge of making it 1-0.
In added time, Czech Republic came very close to tying, with their immediate reaction. She couldn’t do it in that first period and it took almost 30 more minutes for Patrik Schick only had to push the ball near the far post, after the rebound from the shot against the post Ondrej Lingr.
What remained after that tie was an intense back and forth. With the Czechs clearer to attack and shoot, but with some Georgians with much more than good will. With football and speed. Both determined to win it. They needed it, because in the debut Georgia had lost to Türkiye and the Czech Republic to Portugal.
They looked for it until the end and the 1-1 ended up leaving little taste for the two, who were now at the mercy of what their other teammates in Group F did.
