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Georgia Euro 2024 squad, predicted line-up versus Turkey, latest odds and star players


TOURNAMENT rookies Georgia have absolutely nothing to lose as they step onto the big stage for the first time.

They held their nerve in the play-off shoot-out against Greece following a win over Luxembourg.

Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has the skill and speed to bamboozle defendersCredit: AP

Former France full-back Willy Sagnol became a national hero in his adopted homeland by guiding the nation to the Euros.

But this will be a huge challenge and even a point from their three games is likely to be a triumph.

Sagnol’s squad play across Europe with a few in Asia and have a smattering of top grade experience.

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Manager: Willy Sagnol

The Frenchman boasts an impressive CV that includes a Champions League winner’s medal and five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich as a player.

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The 47-year-old was manager of Bordeaux before becoming assistant manager at Bayern under Carlo Ancelotti in 2017.

He has been Georgia manager since 2021.

Willy Sagnol has become a legend in GeorgiaCredit: Getty
Willy Sagnol, left, with France team-mates Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, and Claude Makelele back in 2005Credit: AP:Associated Press

Key man: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Winger has made his mark in the Champions League and helped Serie to the title in 2023.

With 15 goals in 29 caps for his country show why he is the main asset of Sagnol’s side.

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Likely line-up

How they could line up at the Euros

How they attack

Georgia certainly did things the hard way in qualifying for their first ever major international tournament as they came through a playoff against Greece on penalties.

It is a country that tends to produce highly technical players and in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia they have a talent who could emerge as one of the stars of the tournament.

We expect to see Georgia play in a 3-4-1-2 system with two mobile and dynamic strikers but their back three will help them to progress the ball.

While they can at times play longer, the minnows have the quality to play out from the back and into the middle third.

Three defenders spread across the pitch and offer width. In these positions one of the two central midfielders will then drop back in to offer an option to receive and link play

Georgia will build the attack with confidence from deeper areas and their stars are typically comfortable receiving the ball deep facing their own goal.

They can play longer driven passes into the midfield areas before linking play and combining to play forward.

Against Scotland the first pass goes short to pull the oppositin towards the ball before a longer pass into the midfielder and then a first time pass into space around the corner

There can be no doubt that the Napoli forward Kvaratskhelia will be Georgia’s main danger as they attack.

While he plays from the left at club level we tend to see him allowed to drift and play anywhere across the attack for the national team.

He is a threat to drop into space to receive the ball at any point.

Kvaratskhelia receives the ball in space between four opposition defenders in the match against Scotland

How they defend

From the defensive side of the game we expect to see Georgia drop off to play in a medium defensive block with little intent to press the ball and look to engage it high.

They will typically be solid and strong centrally but they do give up spaces wide that can be exploited.

Georgia are in their medium block but they are positioned centrally. As you can see there are clear spaces that can be played into in the wide areas

This form of defending could well be dangerous for Georgia in this tournament as top sides will be able to easily take advantage of the spaces.

Georgia are positioned in a medium defensive block with a solid central structure. Against a team like Spain, though, these spaces can be extremely dangerous to give up

By giving up these wide spaces Georgia are inviting the opposition to attack down the sides and in these situations they can be outplayed wide through longer passes behind their defence.

Greece move the ball wide we see that Georgia are slow to react and adapt. This allows the longer pass to be played easily to access the space and runners to attack behind the Georgian defence

Prediction

It is hard to make a case for them advancing beyond the group phase.

Besides the brilliant Kvaratskhelia and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has been linked with Newcastle and Chelsea, there is a real lack of quality in the side.

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If Georgia were to beat Portugal, Turkey or Czech Republic in the group stages it would be an incredible upset.

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Latest odds

William Hill have them at 500/1 to win Euro 2024 and 10/3 to lose all their matches.

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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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