Georgia vs Czechia Preview & Prediction | UEFA EURO 2024 | Group Stage
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Both of these sides will have left their opening game gutted but inspired and hopeful that they can go on to pick up some points after Georgia suffered a defeat to Turkey in Dortmund and then Czechia lost to Portugal in Leipzig.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 22nd June, 2024 - UK – 2:00pm / US EST – 9:00am / US PST – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – BBC / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – VIX
GEORGIA PREVIEW: THE HIDDEN GEM
Under the management of former France international Willy Sagnol, Georgia are playing at their first ever major tournament but the way in which they went about their opener against Turkey would not have suggested that. Genuinely incisive and precise, sophisticated play throughout the match was a joy to watch but the Georgians eventually came up short.
After Mert Muldur’s opener, a screamer of a volley from the edge of the box, key striker Georges Mikautadze soon equalised for the Georgians. Arda Guler scored a wonder goal to put Turkey back ahead but then Georgia had plenty of chances to equalise late on, hitting the woodwork twice, before Kerem Akturkoglu took advantage of stranded up the pitch Giorgi Mamardashvili to seal the win for the Turks.
CZECHIA PREVIEW: CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT
After a really underwhelming qualifying campaign in which they finished below Albania, expectations from the Czech Republic for this tournament were low – even after a slight improvement since the appointment of Czechoslovakia’s 1990 FIFA World Cup captain Ivan Hasek, who replaced Jaroslav Silhavy after that aforementioned qualifying campaign.
Czechia, though, proved to be extremely stubborn opposition for one of the pre-tournament favourites Portugal in their opening match. After frustrating the Iberians for an hour, Lukas Provod then unleashed a spectacular effort to give the Czechs a shock lead. However, an own goal from Robin Hranac and then stoppage-time winner from Francisco Conceicao condemned them to defeat.
GEORGIA TEAM NEWS: GO AGAIN
Georgia were excellent against Turkey and their slick passing moves down the right, with the likes of Otar Kakabadze, Giorgi Kochorashvili and Giorgi Chakvetadze, will surely be something they attempt to persist with. Anzor Mekvabishvili is also expected to keep his place in midfield after his own impressive performance.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Mamardashvili; Kverkvelia, Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze, Kochorashvili, Mekvabishvili, Shengelia; Chakvetadze, Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Kiteishvili (Injured)
CZECHIA TEAM NEWS: A DEBATE IN ATTACK
Patrik Schick is Czechia’s best player but when Ivan Hasek made the decision to replace both Jan Kuchta and Patrik Schick after around an hour, that is when the Czechs played their best football and actually got their goal. Despite that, though, it would seem foolish and a waste for Hasek to not continue with Schick up-front.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Stanek; Holes, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Sulc, Soucek, Provod, Doudera; Kuchta, Schick
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
KEY STATS
- This is the first international match between Georgia and Czechia.
- The 3-1 defeat against Türkiye was only Georgia’s second defeat in their last eight international matches (W4 D2).
- Georgia have only failed to score in one of their last ten international matches.
- Georgia have scored in the first half in five of their last six international matches.
- None of Czechia’s last 25 EURO matches have finished without a goal being scored. The last time they were involved in a 0-0 draw was in the 1996 semi-finals against France (W on pens).
- Czechia have won only three of their last 12 EURO group stage matches (D2 L7).
- Despite the defeat against Portugal, Czechia have lost only two of their last 15 international matches (W9 D4).
- Czechia have only failed to score in one of their last 13 international matches.
- Czechia have never lost their first two matches in a EURO final tournament group.
- Czechia have scored 49 goals and conceded 49 goals in EURO final tournament matches (including Czechoslovakia).
GEORGIA VS CZECHIA PREDICTION
This one has the potential to be a bit of a thriller if Georgia’s opener against Turkey is anything to go by. The Georgians will seek to take the game to their opposition after an excellent but frustrating performance and result the other day. Czechia will have to take some initiative, too, though, unlike against Portugal as this is a game they will have and still are expected to come out on top in. As a result, another thriller for the neutral could well be in store here.
GEORGIA VS CZECHIA TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
