Georgia head coach Willy Sagnol has confirmed his 26-man squad for Euro 2024, with the national team preparing to take part in the European Championship for the first time in their history.
The Crusaders beat Greece on penalties in the playoffs to secure their spot at the tournament, and they will feature in Group F alongside Portugal, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
The squad is headlined by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while Levante midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili has also been selected.
Guram Kashia is the captain and most experienced player in terms of international caps, with the 36-year-old representing his country on 113 occasions.
Jaba Kankava was named in the initial squad but has since been replaced by Gabriel Sigua, while there is also a spot in the squad for Watford's Giorgi Chakvetadze, who is set to add to his 25 appearances for Georgia.
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Kvaratskhelia headlines Georgia squad
There is quality across the board in the squad, but Kvaratskhelia is the standout name and player, and there will be pressure on him to perform at the tournament.
The 23-year-old has 15 goals in 30 appearances for his national side, while he has managed 11 goals and nine assists in 44 appearances for Napoli during the 2023-24 campaign.
The forward, who continues to be linked with a big-money transfer, has 25 goals and 26 assists in his 87 games for Napoli all competitions, and he will be key to Georgia's chances of success at this summer's tournament.
Kvaratskhelia is the leading goalscorer in the squad, but Georges Mikautadze has an impressive record of 10 goals in 25 caps for his country, while Budu Zivzivadze has eight in 26 matches.
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Can Georgia make an impression at Euro 2024?
It is difficult to measure what success would look like for Georgia this summer, as it is incredible that they have managed to make the finals of the competition.
Not too much is expected of the national side this summer, and there is absolutely no question that Portugal will be the heavy favourites to top Group F considering the strength of their squad.
Georgia open up against Turkey on June 18, and a win in that match would lead them nicely into their second match with the Czech Republic four days later.
Portugal are their opponents on June 26, but the section favourites might have qualified by that point and could rest a number of important players, with the draw therefore potentially working in Georgia's favour.
The Crusaders are capable of being awkward opposition at the European Championship, and a win at the tournament would see them create more history.
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Could a lack of preparation hurt Georgia?
Somewhat surprisingly, Georgia only booked in one pre-tournament friendly, which came on Sunday against Montenegro, recording a 3-1 victory.
Indeed, the national side have therefore played just once since their famous penalty-shootout success over Greece at the end of March.
There will be nine days between the clash with Montenegro and their tournament opener against Turkey.
While some teams will feature in three friendlies before the start of Euro 2024, Georgia will have only taken to the field once, which is far from ideal.
The national team will bring a strong run of form into the tournament, though, having won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, including their last three against Luxembourg, Greece and Montenegro, so there is a feel-good factor around the squad at this moment in time.
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Who is Georgia's head coach?
Sagnol turned out for Saint-Etienne, Monaco and Bayern Munich during his playing days, winning five Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with the latter.
He was also capped on 58 occasions by France, helping his country to finish second at the 2006 World Cup, in addition to tasting glory twice in the Confederations Cup in 2001 and 2003.
After retirement, Sagnol worked with France as a technical director, and with their Under-20s and Under-21s, before taking the Bordeaux managerial job in 2014, spending two years with the French side.
The ex-defender then had a spell at Bayern Munich as an assistant and interim head coach, but he has held the Georgia job since February 2021, boasting a record of 17 wins, five draws and 12 defeats from his 34 matches at the helm.
A 50% win rate is an indication of the impressive work that he has done with Georgia, and it will be interesting to see whether he ends up at a big national side or a major European team in the future.
Georgia Euro 2024 squad in full
Goalkeepers: Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia), Giorgi Loria (Dinamo Tiflis), Luka Gugeshashvili (Qarabag)
Defenders: Solomon Kvirkvelia (Al-Okhdood), Guram Kashia (Slovan Bratislava), Giorgi Gvelesiani (Persepolis), Lasha Dvali (APOEL), Luka Lochoshvili (Cremonese), Otar Kakabadze (Cracovia), Giorgi Gocholeishvili (Shakhtar Donetsk), Jemal Tabidze (Panetolikos)
Midfielders: Giorgi Kochorashvili (Levante), Otar Kiteishvili (Sturm Graz), Nika Kvekveskiri (Lech Poznan), Giorgi Chakvetadze (Watford), Giorgi Tsitaishvili (Dinamo Batumi), Levan Shengelia (Panetolikos), Sandro Altunashvili (Wolfsberger), Anzor Mekvabishvili (Universitatea Craiova), Saba Lobzhanidze (Atlanta United), Zuriko Davitashvili (Bordeaux), Gabriel Sigua (Basel)
Attackers: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli), Giorgi Kvilitaia (APOEL), Giorgi Mikautadze (Metz), Budu Zivzivadze (Karlsruher)
Group and fixtures
June 18: Turkey 3-1 Georgia (5pm | BVB Stadion Dortmund, Dortmund)
June 22: Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic (2pm | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
June 26: Georgia 2-0 Portugal (8pm | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen)
Matt Law
