Georgia make history with Euro berth
Tbilisi, Georgia - Georgia qualified for Euro 2024 thanks to a 42 shootout win over Greece after a tense playoff final ended 0-0 following extra time on Tuesday as they made history by reaching their first major tournament.
Georgia substitute Nika Kvekveskiri converted his spot kick after Greece’s Giorgos Giakoumakis put his penalty wide to send the home crowd wild as their side edged through to the finals.
Georgia will be in Group F alongside Portugal, Turkey and the Czech Republic at the Euros in Germany which begins on June 14.
Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Greece’s first effort from Anastasios Bakasetas after the hosts had taken the lead in the shootout but when Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze missed his spot kick the Greeks had renewed hope.
However, Giakoumakis sent Greece’s fourth penalty past the post to leave Georgia’s
Kvekveskiri as the hero when he kept his cool and squeezed his right-foot kick into the net.
“Some did not believe in us but now they will believe it. We are happy. I have never had such an emotion in my life,” Georgia talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia told 1TV Sport.
Poland qualify
Poland’s Wojciech Szczesny saved a Daniel James spot kick as they dashed Wales’ hopes and won a penalty shootout 5-4 to qualify for Euro 2024 as the last country through from the playoff finals on Tuesday.
The victory at the Cardiff City
Stadium, after a cagey 90 minutes and further deadlock in extra time, secured Poland a fifth straight appearance at the continental tournament.
They will be in Group D with France, the Netherlands and Austria at the finals in Germany, which start in June.