The Associated Press agency responded to the success of the Georgian national team and publishes the article with the subtitle “GEORGIA RISING”.

“Georgian players have been European champions before - in the Soviet Union squad that won the inaugural title in 1960. Now the independent republic has earned the right to make its own soccer history in Germany.

The decisive penalty Tuesday was scored by substitute Nika Kvekveskiri placed his perfect shot low into the corner to seal Georgia’s 4-2 win. Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had saved the first Greece spot-kick, by captain Tasos Bakasetas, then Giorgos Giakoumakis pulled his shot wide of the goal.

Georgia will start against Turkey on June 18 in Dortmund, then play the Czechs on June 22 in Hamburg, and finish against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on June 26 in Gelsenkirchen, at the home stadium of Schalke.

Georgia’s French coach Willy Sagnol knows the territory well after nine years playing for Bayern Munich.

Georgia followed North Macedonia, a debutant at Euro 2020, in taking the path opened by UEFA for a low-ranked team to rise to the big stage via their results in the Nations League competition.

Georgia and Greece played the final of a playoffs knockout bracket open only to teams that performed well in third-tier groups of the Nations League in 2022, before they failed to finish in the top two of a traditional Euros qualifying group last year”, - writes the author of the article.