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Georgia and the Czech Republic are sharpening their talons in readiness for their battle in matchday 2 of Group F.
Tournament debutants Georgia, the lowest FIFA-ranked team at UEFA Euro 2024, are gearing up for their crucial match against the Czech Republic.
Despite a spirited effort in their campaign opener, Georgia fell to Turkey 3-1, with the margin of defeat widened by a late stoppage-time goal into an empty net after goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili ventured forward seeking a last-minute equalizer.
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15:05 - 21.06.2024
EURO 2024: 3 reasons why Serbia's withdrawal threat could tarnish the tournament's image
Serbia have threatened to withdraw from Euro 2024 over discriminatory chants by Croatia and Albania fans.
The upcoming clash is pivotal, as another loss for either team could severely dent their hopes of advancing from Group F, even as one of the four best third-placed sides.
Georgia's loss to Turkey marked their first defeat in four encounters (W3), yet manager Willy Sagnol remains optimistic.
Their recent victories have come against relatively lowly ranked opponents, highlighting the need for Georgia to elevate their performance against the 34th-ranked Czechs.
The Czech Republic, participating in their eighth consecutive European Championship since independence, also suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Portugal, conceding a goal in the 92nd minute despite initially taking the lead. This result was the first defeat under new manager Ivan Hašek (W4).
The Czechs aim to bounce back immediately in their first-ever head-to-head encounter with Georgia, striving to maintain their strong record of reaching the knockout stages in four of their last seven Euros appearances.
Historically, the Czechs have struggled in group stage matches, winning just one of their last seven (D2, L4). To improve their chances of progression, they must overcome their past difficulties at the Volksparkstadion, where they have previously lost 2-0 to Italy in 2006 and 3-0 to Germany in 2016.
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19:55 - 21.06.2024
Euro 2024: How things look after Matchday 2 in Group A
Summary of Group A heading into the final matchday.
Key players to watch include Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose scoring prowess has often led to victories, and Lukáš Provod of the Czech Republic, who netted their first goal of the tournament.
Notably, five of the Czech Republic’s last six games have produced exactly three goals, suggesting a potentially high-scoring affair.
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