Georgia national football team

The Georgia national football team (Georgian: საქართველოს ეროვნული საფეხბურთო ნაკრები, romanized: sakartvelos erovnuli sapekhburto nak'rebi) represents the country of Georgia in men's international football matches, and it is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major tournament from Euro 1996 onwards, but have not achieved qualification yet, although they came very close to Euro 2020. Home games are played at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi.

Georgia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)ჯვაროსნები
Jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
AssociationGeorgian Football Federation (GFF)
საქართველოს ფეხბურთის ფედერაცია
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachWilly Sagnol
CaptainGuram Kashia
Most capsGuram Kashia (102)
Top scorerShota Arveladze (26)
Home stadiumBoris Paichadze Dinamo Arena and Adjarabet Arena
FIFA codeGEO
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 77 Increase 1 (6 April 2023)[1]
Highest42 (September 1998)
Lowest156 (March 1994)
First international
Unofficial
 Georgia 2–2 Lithuania 
(Tbilisi, Georgia; 27 May 1990)
Official
 Lithuania 1–0 Georgia 
(Kaunas, Lithuania; 2 September 1992)
Biggest win
 Georgia 7–0 Armenia 
(Tbilisi, Georgia; 30 March 1997)
Biggest defeat
 Romania 5–0 Georgia 
(Bucharest, Romania; 24 April 1996)
 Denmark 6–1 Georgia 
(Copenhagen, Denmark; 7 September 2005)

HistoryEdit

The history of the Georgia national football team began in 1990, when the team played their first international match against Lithuania, the first country to accept an invitation. The match was held on 27 May 1990 at national stadium. Georgia were coached by Givi Nodia. The friendly match ended in a 2–2 draw. This was the only match prior to the declaration of independence on 9 April 1991. Soon afterwards the team played another friendly match against Moldova.

The Georgian Football Federation became a member of both UEFA and FIFA in 1992,[3] enabling Georgia to play competitive matches. The first of these came in September 1994, a 1–0 defeat to Moldova[4] as part of the qualifiers for Euro 1996. Georgia finished third in their group, ahead of Moldova, Wales and Albania, but seven points behind second-placed qualifier Bulgaria.

Georgia failed to qualify for 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, obtaining 10 points and finishing in fourth place, level on points with Poland. At this time Georgia reached forty-second place in the FIFA World Ranking.

During UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying the Georgia national team won one match, drew two and finished at the bottom of the group with five points. This marked the beginning of a period of decline for Georgian football.

The team finished fifth (and last) with seven points in their qualifying group for Euro 2004, although they defeated Russia with a goal scored by Malkhaz Asatiani.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Georgia beat Albania 2–0 at home and Kazakhstan away 2–1. They finished sixth (second bottom) with ten points in Group 2.

Georgia were sixth out of seven teams in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying group with ten points. They defeated Scotland 2–0 at home and the Faroe Islands 6–0 away and 3–1 at home.

Héctor Cúper became the manager of Georgia in August 2008. During the qualification round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Georgia failed to win any matches and finished sixth (and last) with three points. Cuper didn't extend his contract, and on 6 November 2009 Temur Ketsbaia was appointed as the new manager of the Georgian national football team. Ketsbaia resigned as manager after a 4–0 defeat at home to Poland in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers on 14 November 2014, having previously stated he would do so before the match regardless of the result.

In June 2016, Georgia beat the two-times reigning European champions Spain 1–0 in their final pre-Euro 2016 friendly.[5]

In 2018, they were the first team to earn promotion in the new UEFA Nations League. They scored the event's first goal in a UEFA Nations League D game in Kazakhstan before beating Latvia twice and Andorra, with 2 games still to spare. In the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Georgia had a disappointing run, with their only wins came over Gibraltar. Still, having finished first place in League D, Georgia was able to qualify for the country's first ever major playoff. Georgia managed to beat Belarus 1–0 and thus the hope to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020 increased, but it went in vain after the Georgians suffered a heartbreaking home defeat to North Macedonia in the decisive match and thus missed the opportunity to make a historic debut in a major competition.

Georgia showed improvements with a strong 2-0 win over Sweden at the 2022 World Cup qualification on 11 November 2021.[6]

Results and fixturesEdit

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2022Edit

2 June 2022 2022–23 Nations League Georgia   4–0   Gibraltar Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00
Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Attendance: 43,412
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
5 June 2022 2022–23 Nations League Bulgaria   2–5   Georgia Razgrad, Bulgaria
20:00
Report
Stadium: Huvepharma Arena
Attendance: 3,600
Referee: Fabio Maresca (Italy)
9 June 2022 2022–23 Nations League North Macedonia   0–3   Georgia Skopje, North Macedonia
20:45 Report
Stadium: Toše Proeski Arena
Attendance: 10,775
Referee: Roi Reinshreiber (Israel)
12 June 2022 2022–23 Nations League Georgia   0–0   Bulgaria Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00 Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Attendance: 54,200
Referee: Espen Eskås (Norway)
23 September 2022 2022–23 Nations League Georgia   2–0   North Macedonia Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00
Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Attendance: 54,200
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)
26 September 2022 2022–23 Nations League Gibraltar   1–2   Georgia Gibraltar
20:45
Report
Stadium: Victoria Stadium
Attendance: 1,199
Referee: Rob Harvey (Ireland)
17 November 2022 Friendly Morocco   3–0   Georgia Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
20:00
Report Stadium: Sharjah Stadium
Referee: Adel Al Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)

2023Edit

25 March 2023 Friendly Georgia   6–1   Mongolia Batumi, Georgia
18:00
Report Batbold   31' Stadium: Batumi Stadium
Referee: Zaven Hovhannisyan (Armenia)
28 March 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Georgia   1–1   Norway Batumi, Georgia
18:00
Report
Stadium: Batumi Stadium
Attendance: 20,300
Referee: Andris Treimanis (Latvia)
20 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Scotland   v   Georgia Glasgow, Scotland
20:45 Report Stadium: Hampden Park
8 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Georgia   v   Spain Tbilisi, Georgia
18:00 Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
11 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Norway   v   Georgia Oslo, Norway
20:45 Report Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion
12 October 2023 Friendly Georgia   v   Thailand Tbilisi, Georgia
Stadium: TBD
15 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Georgia   v   Cyprus Tbilisi, Georgia
15:00 Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
16 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Georgia   v   Scotland Tbilisi, Georgia
18:00 Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
19 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Spain   v   Georgia Valladolid, Spain
20:45 Report Stadium: El Sardinero

Coaching staffEdit

As of 20 June 2022[7]
Position Name
Manager   Willy Sagnol
Assistant Manager   Adel Chedli
  Zurab Khizanishvili
Goalkeeping Coach   Davit Gvaramadze
Analyst   Irakli Chitauri
  Levan Zamtaradze

Coaching historyEdit

As of 19 November 2019[8]

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

The following players were called up for a friendly match against   Mongolia and a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against   Norway on March 25 and 28, 2023.[9]

Caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2023, after the match against Norway.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Giorgi Loria (1986-01-27) 27 January 1986 (age 37) 77 0   Anorthosis Famagusta
12 1GK Giorgi Mamardashvili (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 (age 22) 7 0   Valencia
17 1GK Luka Gugeshashvili (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 (age 24) 1 0   Qarabağ

2 2DF Otar Kakabadze (1995-06-27) 27 June 1995 (age 27) 54 0   Cracovia
3 2DF Jemal Tabidze (1996-03-18) 18 March 1996 (age 27) 15 1   Dinamo Tbilisi
4 2DF Guram Kashia (captain) (1987-07-04) 4 July 1987 (age 35) 102 3   Slovan Bratislava
5 2DF Solomon Kvirkvelia (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992 (age 31) 49 0   Neftchi Baku
15 2DF Irakli Azarovi (2002-02-21) 21 February 2002 (age 21) 11 0   Red Star Belgrade
18 2DF Giorgi Gocholeishvili (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 22) 3 0   Shakhtar Donetsk
21 2DF Saba Sazonov (2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 (age 21) 2 0   Dynamo Moscow
23 2DF Lasha Dvali (1995-05-14) 14 May 1995 (age 28) 26 1   APOEL
2DF Mamuka Kobakhidze (1992-08-23) 23 August 1992 (age 30) 5 0   Dinamo Batumi

6 3MF Giorgi Aburjania (1995-01-02) 2 January 1995 (age 28) 38 1   Gil Vicente
9 3MF Zuriko Davitashvili (2001-02-15) 15 February 2001 (age 22) 24 3   Bordeaux
10 3MF Giorgi Chakvetadze (1999-08-29) 29 August 1999 (age 23) 15 7   Slovan Bratislava
11 3MF Saba Lobzhanidze (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 (age 28) 32 3   Fatih Karagümrük
13 3MF Gabriel Sigua (2005-06-30) 30 June 2005 (age 17) 1 0   Dinamo Tbilisi
14 3MF Luka Gagnidze (2003-02-28) 28 February 2003 (age 20) 2 0   Dynamo Moscow
16 3MF Nika Kvekveskiri (1992-05-29) 29 May 1992 (age 31) 52 0   Lech Poznań
3MF Heorhiy Tsitaishvili (2000-11-18) 18 November 2000 (age 22) 14 1   Lech Poznań

7 4FW Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 (age 22) 20 10   Napoli
8 4FW Budu Zivzivadze (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994 (age 29) 17 4   Karlsruher SC
19 4FW Giorgi Beridze (1997-04-12) 12 April 1997 (age 26) 8 1   Ankaragücü
20 4FW Davit Volkovi (1995-06-03) 3 June 1995 (age 28) 5 2   Sabah
22 4FW Georges Mikautadze (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 22) 14 3   Metz

Recent call-upsEdit

The following players have not been called up for the upcoming matches but have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Levan Shovnadze (1997-11-19) 19 November 1997 (age 25) 0 0   Samgurali v.   Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
GK Lazare Kupatadze (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 27) 2 0   Saburtalo v.   Bulgaria, 12 June 2022

DF Davit Khocholava (1993-02-08) 8 February 1993 (age 30) 39 0   Copenhagen v.   Mongolia, 25 March 2023 INJ
DF Luka Lochoshvili (1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 (age 25) 5 0   Cremonese v.   Morocco, 17 November 2022
DF Guram Giorbelidze (1996-02-25) 25 February 1996 (age 27) 11 0   Dinamo Batumi v.   Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
DF Grigol Chabradze (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 (age 27) 8 0   Dinamo Batumi v.   Gibraltar, 26 September 2022

MF Anzor Mekvabishvili (2001-06-05) 5 June 2001 (age 21) 7 0   Dinamo Tbilisi v.   Mongolia, 25 March 2023 INJ
MF Otar Kiteishvili (1996-03-26) 26 March 1996 (age 27) 29 1   Sturm Graz v.   Morocco, 17 November 2022
MF Levan Shengelia (1995-10-27) 27 October 1995 (age 27) 11 0   Panetolikos v.   Morocco, 17 November 2022
MF Vladimer Mamuchashvili (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 25) 7 0   Dinamo Batumi v.   Morocco, 17 November 2022
MF Sandro Altunashvili (1997-05-19) 19 May 1997 (age 26) 2 0   Dinamo Batumi v.   Morocco, 17 November 2022
MF Valerian Gvilia (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 29) 44 3 Unattached v.   Bulgaria, 12 June 2022

FW Giorgi Kvilitaia (1993-10-01) 1 October 1993 (age 29) 35 5   APOEL v.   Morocco, 17 November 2022
FW Valeri Qazaishvili (1993-01-29) 29 January 1993 (age 30) 62 15   Ulsan Hyundai v.   Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
FW Beka Mikeltadze (1997-11-26) 26 November 1997 (age 25) 2 0   Newcastle Jets v.   Bulgaria, 12 June 2022

RecordsEdit

As of 28 March 2023[10]
Players in bold are still active with Georgia.

Competitive recordEdit

FIFA World CupEdit

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA Position
  1930 to   1990 Part of the   Soviet Union Part of the   Soviet Union
  1994 Did not enter Did not enter
  1998 Did not qualify 8 3 1 4 7 9 4/5
    2002 8 3 1 4 12 12 3/5
  2006 12 2 4 6 14 25 6/7
  2010 10 0 3 7 7 19 6/6
  2014 8 1 2 5 3 10 4/5
  2018 10 0 5 5 8 14 5/6
  2022 8 2 1 5 6 12 4/5
      2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 64 11 17 36 57 101

UEFA European ChampionshipEdit

UEFA European Championship record UEFA European Championship qualifying record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA Position
  1960 to   1992 Part of the   Soviet Union Part of the   Soviet Union
  1996 Did not qualify 10 5 0 5 14 13 3/6
    2000 10 1 2 7 8 18 6/6
  2004 8 2 1 5 8 14 5/5
    2008 12 3 1 8 16 19 6/7
    2012 10 2 4 4 7 9 5/6
  2016 10 3 0 7 10 16 5/6
  2020 10 3 2 5 8 12 4/5 (PO runners-up)
  2024 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 70 19 10 41 71 101

UEFA Nations LeagueEdit

UEFA Nations League record
Year League Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 1 1st 6 5 1 0 12 2   40th
2020–21 C 2 3rd 6 1 4 1 6 6   42nd
2022–23 C 4 1st 6 5 1 0 16 3   33rd
2024–25 B To be determined
Total 18 11 6 1 34 11 33rd

Head-to-head recordEdit

As of 28 March 2023[11][12]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Notable resultsEdit

Date Team Result Team
11 October 1995   Georgia 2–1   Bulgaria
10 September 1997   Georgia 0–0   Italy
11 October 1997   Georgia 3–0   Poland
1 September 2001   Georgia 3–1   Hungary
27 March 2002   Georgia 4–1   South Africa
30 April 2003   Georgia 1–0   Russia
15 November 2006   Georgia 2–0   Uruguay
7 February 2007   Georgia 1–0   Turkey
26 March 2011   Georgia 1–0   Croatia
6 September 2013   Georgia 0–0   France
7 June 2016   Spain 0–1   Georgia
8 September 2019   Georgia 0–0   Denmark
2 June 2021   Romania 1–2   Georgia
11 November 2021   Georgia 2–0   Sweden
5 June 2022   Bulgaria 2–5   Georgia

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Georgian Football Federation". UEFA. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  4. ^ "Georgia – International Results". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  5. ^ "Spain fall to Georgia in final friendly ahead of Euro 2016". ESPN FC. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Sweden shocker in Georgia opens door for Spain". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Მწვრთნელები - ეროვნული ნაკრები".
  8. ^ "Georgia national team managers". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  9. ^ "საქართველოს ნაკრების შემადგენლობა მარტში გასამართი მატჩებისთვის".
  10. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Georgia - Record International Players". RSSSF.
  11. ^ "Georgia national football team match results". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Georgia - International Results". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 February 2017.

External linksEdit