74th-Ranked Georgia Beat Portugal as Ronaldo Remains Goalless

In a stunning twist at Euro 2024, Georgia, ranked 74th in the world, pulled off a historic upset by defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-0, securing a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. 

This dramatic conclusion to the group stages has sent shockwaves through the football world, highlighting Georgia's incredible journey in their debut European Championship appearance.

At the start of the day, all four teams in Group E were tied with three points each. 

The group dynamics were tense, with each team vying for a spot in the last 16. 

Georgia needed a win against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen to advance, and they did so in spectacular fashion. 

Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring within the first two minutes, setting the stage for what would become a memorable night for the Georgian team.

Georges Mikautadze then extended Georgia’s lead to 2-0 from the penalty spot early in the second half. 

This goal not only secured Georgia’s victory but also made Mikautadze the tournament’s top scorer with three goals. 

Despite multiple attempts, Portugal struggled to find the back of the net, largely due to the heroic efforts of Georgia’s goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, who made several crucial saves.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the record for the most goals in Euros history with 14, has yet to score in this tournament. 

His goalless streak continued against Georgia, adding to Portugal’s frustration. 

This defeat leaves Portugal facing Slovenia in the next round on Monday in Frankfurt.

Georgia’s coach, Willy Sagnol, expressed his pride and disbelief at the team's achievement. 

"I’m still finding it difficult to comprehend what we’ve achieved," he said. 

"I’m immensely proud of the players for the image they’ve portrayed of Georgia today. It’s a great honour for me to manage them."

In other Group E action, Turkey secured second place with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Hamburg, eliminating the Czechs. 

Cenk Tosun’s stoppage-time goal and Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half strike sealed Turkey’s win. 

The Czech Republic's Tomas Soucek equalized before they played most of the match with ten men following Antonin Barak’s 20th-minute red card. 

Turkey will meet Austria in Leipzig next Tuesday.

Despite earning four points, Ukraine was eliminated from the tournament due to goal difference, marking the first instance in the expanded Euro format involving 24 teams where a team with four points failed to progress. 

Romania’s 1-1 draw with Slovakia ensured both teams advanced, with Belgium, who were expected to dominate the group, finishing second and set to face France in the last 16.

Slovakia, advancing as one of the best third-placed teams, will play England next in Gelsenkirchen.

Romania’s advancement to the knockout stages for the first time in 24 years was secured through a draw against Slovakia, with Razvan Marin converting a penalty to equalize after Ondrej Duda’s header gave Slovakia the lead. 

Romania will face the Netherlands in the last 16.

As Georgia prepares to face Spain in Cologne on Sunday, their historic victory over Portugal will be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments in Euro 2024. 

This underdog triumph underscores the unpredictable and thrilling nature of football, where even the most unlikely teams can rise to greatness.