Bottom-placed Georgia in search of miraculous last-16 qualification.
Georgia, European Championship debutants, face a daunting challenge against already-qualified Portugal as they strive to secure a spot in the knockout stages, with a complex set of scenarios that could see them advance or bid farewell to their tournament dreams.
Georgia
European Championship debutants Georgia kept their chances of reaching the last sixteen alive with a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic. Georges Mikautadze put his team ahead with a penalty just before halftime.
However, Patrik Schick scored for the Czechs in the 59th minute, leaving Georgia's progress in the tournament hanging in the balance. Georgia currently sits at the bottom of Group F with a single point and a goal difference of -2.
This encounter will be only their second meeting with Portugal, the first resulting in a 2-0 friendly win for Portugal. Georgia aims for their first victory in a major tournament, which could see them advance to the round of 16 as group runners-up if they manage a win and the Czechs defeat Turkey.
Should Georgia lose or draw while Czechia avoids defeat, their tournament journey will end. A 3—4—3 formation is expected with Zuriko Davitashvili, Georges Mikautadze, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia spearheading the attack. This trio challenged the Czech defense and will aim to test Portugal's defensive setup as well.
Portugal
A 3-0 win over Turkey was overshadowed by as many as five pitch invaders wanting a selfie with Cristiano Ronaldo, as Portugal advanced to the last 16 alongside Germany and Spain. Ronaldo, who unselfishly passed to Bruno Fernandes in the 56th minute, was welcoming to one young fan but grew increasingly frustrated with others attempting the same stunt.
'It is a concern because today we were lucky that the intentions of the fans were good,’ Roberto Martínez stated, expressing his concerns over pitch invaders. This victory placed Portugal at the top of Group F with 6 points and a goal difference of +4, marking their qualification for the knockout stage in all nine of their Euro appearances.
Regardless of Wednesday's outcome, Portugal will secure the position of group winners. They are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ronaldo in attack against Georgia. Rafael Leão, who was substituted in the second half after receiving a yellow card for simulation against Turkey, is suspended for this fixture.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.