The Czech Republic came from behind to earn a crucial 1-1 draw against a lively Georgia side in their EURO 2024 Group F opener at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg in the early kick-off of Saturday June 22nd.
Georgia took a deserved lead in added time of thefirst half when Georges Mikautadze converted a penalty after Robin Hranac’s handball. It was a really deserved goal, because the Georgians looked the more threatening side for much of the half. First half ended 1-0 in favour of the Euro debutants.
However, the Czechs equalised in the second half through a 59-minute goal from talisman Patrik Schick. Ondrej Lingr’s header hit the post and rebounded off Schick’s chest to trickle over the line, making the Bayer Leverkusen striker the Czech Republic’s all-time top scorer at the Euros with six goals.
Georgia had a chance to win it in the closing stages, with Saba Lobjanidze missing a glorious opportunity to win it in injury time, firing over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
In the end, the draw was a fair result, with the Czechs relieved to have avoided defeat at the Volksparkstadion for the first time in three attempts.
The result leaves Group F delicately poised, with both teams still very much in the hunt to progress to the knockout stages.
Ivan Hasek’s side will be disappointed not to have picked up all three points, but the Czechs will take heart from their resilience in coming from behind.
Meanwhile, Willy Sagnol’s Georgia can be proud of their performance and will believe they have what it takes to spring further surprises in this tournament.
The focus now turns to the clash between Portugal and Turkey that will be live on NBS Sport later in the day, with a draw in that game leaving both the Czechs and Georgians needing victories on matchday three to guarantee their place in the round of 16.
