Georgia know that knockout football is still within their reach as they prepare for their toughest test so far at Euro 2024 against Portugal.
Roberto Martinez s side secured top spot in Group F with a game to spare after following up a 2-1 win against Czechia with a commanding 3-0 victory over Turkiye.
Meanwhile, Georgia missed the chance to claim a maiden victory at a major tournament as they drew 1-1 with Czechia, but they did set themselves up with a chance of getting out of the group.
Here, we use Opta data to preview Wednesday s clash.
Um obrigado é pouco, portugueses! |
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal)
What s expected?
After their strong start to Euro 2024, Portugal are the favourites to make it three wins from three game…
Paulo Fonseca was left disappointed with Milan s lack of defensive responsibility in their shock 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Parma on Saturday.
Milan were stunned inside 83 seconds when Dennis Man gave the hosts a shock lead, only for Christian Pulisic to restore parity just after the hour-mark.
However, substitute Matteo Cancellieri struck in the closing exchanges to secure their first triumph over Milan in Serie A since 4-2 win back in March 2014.
It marked an early bump in Fonseca s tenure with the Rossoneri, acknowledging that his side must improve at the back to succeed this season.
I m disappointed. It s difficult to explain our defensive attitude. It s clear that we have a defensive problem, Fonseca told a press conference.
For Parma…
West Brom and Southampton played out a goalless draw at the Hawthorns on Sunday in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final.
Both teams had plenty of chances, but a combination of poor finishing and impressive goalkeeping from the Saints Alex McCarthy and the Baggies Alex Palmer ensured the tie remains finely poised for the return leg at St Mary s Stadium on Friday.
Roared on by a loud Hawthorns, the hosts started well but were unable to capitalise, and it was Southampton who went closest in the first half as Kyle Walker-Peters smashed a deflected effort wide, while Palmer kept out Flynn Downes shot.
West Brom rallied, though, and had a golden opportunity to take the lead with 33 minutes on the clock as Grady Diangana nodded Tom Fellows cross goalw…
Fabian Hurzeler said Brighton will learn from their first loss under him as they aim to bounce back against Tottenham in the Premier League.
The Seagulls had enjoyed an unbeaten start under the German in all competitions, going unbeaten in his first seven matches.
However, after winning their opening two Premier League games, they drew three in a row before suffering that 4-2 defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
Hurzeler was not shying away from the poor result though, instead looking for the positives they can build on before the international break.
It s very important after defeat that you are honest to yourself, you reflect on yourself, what was good, what was not good in the game, Hurzeler said.
If you lose a game, of course, there are more nega…
Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand is relishing the opportunity of facing Euro 2024 hosts Germany in the knockout stages of the tournament this Saturday.
The Danes concluded their Group C campaign with a goalless draw against Serbia in Munich, finishing second behind England in the standings.
The last seven, eight minutes (against Serbia) were just defending, so I think our defence was really good, Hjulmand said after the game.
We had to fight through the game at the end. But I think we showed character and there are so many things from the game that I m happy about.
There are a few things in the attack that we have to tweak in order to succeed but I know that we can we can do that. We have some great players there.
VI ER VIDERE
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Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the organising committee for the 2010 World Cup, insisted Sunday South Africa is on time to host the tournament and dismissed rumours Germany could step in as a replacement.
And Jordaan said FIFA president Sepp Blatter would be impressed the next time he visits South Africa at the progress made there in recent months.
We are on time and there will be no more strikes on the construction building sites, Jordaan was quoted in Monday s edition of Die Welt. The next time Mr Blatter visits South Africa, we will show him what enormous progress we have made.
The announcement in July, that the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth would not be ready by the time of the Confederations Cup in 2009 the traditional World Cup dr…
The chief executive of the Belgian Football Association says Roberto Martinez will stay on as coach despite Belgium s Euro 2020 failure .
A 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Italy in Munich on Friday ended the Red Devils hopes of being crowned champions of Europe.
Belgium once again started the competition with the expectation of mounting a strong challenge to win a first major tournament as the top-ranked team in the world.
They fell short once again under Martinez, but CEO Peter Bossaert says the Spaniard has the full backing of the Belgian FA and he does not expect the 47-year-old to walk away.
Asked if Martinez will remain at the helm, he told HLN: Yes. He has a contract until the end of the World Cup [in Qatar next year].
We are already togeth…
Italy striker Mario Balotelli spoke to the media on Saturday and, as always, had a few interesting things to say.
In response to his agent dubbing him a Peter Pan figure off the pitch, Super Mario insisted that he s more of a man than Peter Pan.
I think these two metaphors are for Mario the person, not Mario the footballer, the Manchester City man told reporters. I think I am a man.
I could be Peter Pan as in some of my behaviour I’m quite free, but I certainly feel more of a man than a Peter Pan.
Balotelli may think he s a Peter Pan personality, but surely he doesn t hang out with the likes of mermaids, Indians, fairies and pirates.
With that said, would you be that surprised if the City striker claimed to know a mermaid or two?…
Every year this is a titanic clash, and this year will be no different, with Alex Ferguson s United clinging on to a marginal lead in the league, and with Liverpoolo finally finding form and battling to rescue fourth spot and a place in champions league football next season.
Ferguson relishes these games which get the fans and the players pumping. A few months ago this might have been a bit of a damp squib but since Liverpool s fortunes have turned there is real spice in the fixture once more. With Ferguson being public enemy number one to Liverpool fans, league position will go out of the window for this one. Ferguson will want another victory over their arch rivals above all else. His odds look good to, with a good run of form behind them, but injuries to key defenders Brown …
Mason Mount says going through the experience of missing part of England s run to the Euro 2020 final after being forced to isolate played a part in his decision to get the COVID-19 vaccination.
The 22-year-old and team-mate Ben Chilwell were deemed close contacts of Scotland s Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for coronavirus after a stalemate with England at Wembley, and had to sit out the Three Lions final group game with the Czech Republic.
He was back on the bench for the last-16 tie with Germany, but Gareth Southgate did not feel the Chelsea playmaker was fit enough to play a part and he was an unused substitute in a famous 2-0 win.
Under current coronavirus protocols, which have changed since June and July, those who have been fully vaccinated no longe…