UEFA Euro 2024 Group Stage
23 June, 2024 - Indian Date
Levi's Stadium
MATCH TIMES
India
06:30 PM
UAE
05:00 PM
Saudi Arabia
4:00 PM
FULL TIME
Ecuador possible starting lineup: Dominguez; Preciado, Torres, Pacho, Hincapie; Ortiz, Caicedo; Yeboah, Paez, Sarmiento; Valencia
Venezuela possible starting lineup: Blake; Lowe, Hector, Bernard; Latibeaudiere, Palmer, Johnson, Anderson; Decordova-Reid, Antonio, Nicholson
Match Preview
In a crucial encounter at Euro 2024, Georgia and the Czech Republic will both be seeking their first points in Group F when they meet on Saturday evening. Both teams lost their opening matches, making this clash in Hamburg vital for their hopes of advancing.
Georgia, playing in their first European Championship, showed resilience and determination in their opener against Turkey in Dortmund. Despite ultimately losing 3-1, they produced an impressive 14 shots on goal. Georges Mikautadze made history by scoring Georgia's first-ever goal at a major tournament, igniting hopes among their supporters. However, a couple of defensive lapses and a desperate attempt by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to equalize in stoppage time led to Turkey scoring a late third goal.
Willy Sagnol's side is aware of the uphill battle they face, especially with a final group stage match against favorites Portugal looming. Only two teams have ever progressed to the knockout stage after losing their first match in the Euros - Slovakia and Northern Ireland in 2016 - and Georgia aims to join this exclusive group. They will rely heavily on Mikautadze and star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to inspire them against the Czechs.
For the Czech Republic, the situation is equally dire. They experienced heartbreak in their opener against Portugal, where Lukas Provod's goal was negated by an own goal and a late winner from Francisco Conceicao. The Czechs' performance was marked by a lack of attacking presence, evidenced by their completion of the fewest passes and having only eight touches in the opposition box in the first round of matches.
Ivan Hasek's team, historically strong in the European Championship, now finds itself in a precarious position. With a record of seven losses in their last twelve group stage matches since 2008, another defeat could spell the end of their campaign. They will need to adopt a more aggressive strategy against Georgia, hoping that playing against less formidable opponents will help them rediscover their form.
Both teams know that a draw could keep their hopes alive, but a win is crucial. Georgia aims to make history by advancing past the group stage in their first appearance, while the Czech Republic looks to avoid an early exit and emulate their successful runs in past tournaments. The stakes are high, and neither side can afford another misstep in this pivotal match.