Patrik Schick earned the Czech Republic a 1-1 draw against the debutants in an entertaining game on Saturday, but it leaves both teams in a tough spot in Group F at 2024 Euro.
Both teams have a point lead. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal face Turkey next, with the top two facing already beaten Czech Republic and Georgia.
Georgia coach Willy Sagnol said his players’ disappointment at the opening defeat showed how far his team had come and they gave it their all in Hamburg to earn their first European point.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made a series of brilliant saves to keep his team in the game and they took the lead just before the breakthrough of Georges Mikutadze’s penalty.
However, Schick repeated his Euro 2020 goalscoring feats to leave his mark even at the end of the pulsating clash.
“Everything is not enough for us – we were better throughout the game, we had more chances, unfortunately, the goalkeeper stopped everything in the first half and then there was an unfortunate penalty,” Schick told the Czech Republic. television
“We didn’t, we managed to draw, and we pushed them, but we didn’t get a second, we have a point, and we will play for everything in the last game.”
Georgia’s central attacking duo of Mikutadze and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia both required medical attention in the warm-up but were able to start the match.
They pressed furiously from the start, but Ivan Hašek’s Czech side created the first clear chances and scored for Georgia.
Valencia stopper Mamardashvili made some good saves on a busy afternoon to deny Adam Hlozek and then Schick.
Georgia went for a penalty when Ladislav Krejci pressured Zuriko Davitashvili, but their appeal was turned down.
After both sides were beaten in their opening matches, they were forced to take three points at Hamburg’s Volks Park Stadion in what was a thoroughly entertaining head-to-head match.
In the thrilling opening loss against Turkey, the Georgian fans were outnumbered, but here they were in the majority and roared every time Napoli winger Kvaratskhelia received the ball in the opponent’s area.
Hlozek put the ball back in the Georgia net in the 23rd minute, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR handball review.
Mamardashvili saved the striker’s first effort when the ball hit Hlozek in the face and then his arm before crossing the line.
In the first half, Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek made an excellent save from Georgian captain Guram Kashia, but VAR spotted a handball by defender Robin Hranac and the referee awarded a penalty.
Mikutadze confidently sent it in to give his side the lead at the break, but not before Mamardashvili played brilliantly from Schick.
The Czechs were level again when Euro 2020 joint top scorer Schick struck from close range after substitute Ondrej Lingri’s header from a corner bounced off the post.
Schick’s strike moved him ahead of Milan Baros as their all-time European Championship goal scorer with six goals, but the Bayer Leverkusen forward limped off midway through the second half with an apparent calf injury.
Georgia had a great chance to win the game right at the end of the match, but at the end of a three-on-one stoppage, substitute Saba Lobjanidze shot wide, only to be beaten by the goalkeeper.
It could have been a historic moment for the Atlanta United forward, but he sat back and watched the ball sail toward the pained Georgia fans behind the goal.
Georgia players collapsed on the field at halftime, devastated by the chance to score that had slipped through their fingers.
“Our first point is a historic moment, of course we could have won right at the end, I’m disappointed, but this is football, and anything can happen,” Mamardashvili said.
“It’s an important moment, but he has to keep going. He should be proud; we got our first point.”.
