With their place in the knockout stages already secured, Portugal will look to maintain their momentum as they take on competition newcomers Georgia in Euro 2024 on Wednesday night at Gelsenkirchen’s VELTINS-Arena.
Portugal’s victories over the Czech Republic and Turkey have confirmed their top spot in Group F. Roberto Martinez’s side, led by standout performances from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, secured a comfortable 3-0 win against Turkey in their previous match.
Silva opened the scoring in the 21st minute, followed by an own goal from Turkey’s Samet Akaydin, and Fernandes extended the lead in the second half. The match also saw multiple pitch invasions by fans eager to snap a photo with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, poised to make his 50th appearance at a major tournament, will captain Portugal against Georgia. Despite already securing their position as group winners, Portugal remains a formidable opponent, having won 15 of their 17 international matches since their 2022 World Cup quarter-final exit.
Georgia, on the other hand, faces a daunting challenge. The Crusaders need a win to advance from the group stage. They earned their first-ever point at a major tournament by drawing with the Czech Republic, with Ajax forward Georges Mikautadze scoring twice in the tournament so far. Georgia’s chances of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams hinge on a victory against Portugal.
Willy Sagnol’s Georgia is expected to field an unchanged XI, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as their key player. Meanwhile, Portugal will be without Rafael Leao due to suspension and might miss Goncalo Ramos and Diogo Jota, both of whom have faced fitness issues.
Prediction: 2-0 win for Portugal
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