Today marks the final Group F encounter at EURO 2024 between Georgia and Portugal. After two rounds, the Georgians, who came into the tournament as underdogs, have only managed to secure one point from their matches against Turkey and the Czech Republic, but they had potential for more. In the game against Turkey (1:3), Willy Sagnol's men failed to convert several critical opportunities to equalize and ultimately conceded a third goal into an empty net. However, their match against the Czech Republic (1:1), despite the overwhelming odds, could have ended in a victory if not for a missed three-on-one opportunity in the 95th minute. Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who saved 11 on-target shots according to advanced statistics, was the hero, highlighting the quality of his performances despite playing for a struggling Valencia in Spain's La Liga. In their upcoming game against Portugal, Mamardashvili's workload may increase, but can he deliver another heroic performance?
Portugal's first match of the tournament against the Czechs was a nervy affair, requiring a hard-fought comeback victory with Francisco Conceição scoring in the 92nd minute. Their game against Turkey was less dramatic, securing a two-goal lead in the first half which set the tone for a comfortable 3-0 win. Roberto Martinez's track record as Portugal's coach is impressive, with only two friendly defeats against Slovenia and Croatia marring an otherwise perfect record of victories. Known for rotating his squad during inconsequential third group matches while coaching Belgium at the 2018 World Cup and EURO 2020, a similar strategy might be expected here. The depth and quality of Portugal's bench could see players like Diogo Dalot, João Neves, and João Félix in midfield, with a potential forward line-up including Pedro Neto, Diogo Jota, Gonçalo Ramos, and Francisco Conceição. One of the intrigues of this round is whether Cristiano Ronaldo will rest. The 39-year-old forward's readiness to compromise might signal a shift in his role within the team, highlighted by his assist to Bruno Fernandes on the second matchday instead of taking a shot from a prime position. If Martinez has successfully tamed Ronaldo's fiery ego to act in the team's best interests, it is commendable.
The historical match-up between these teams has seen only one encounter back in 2008, a friendly that Portugal won 2-0. Will Georgia surprise us this time? We'll soon find out!
Predictions and Odds:
- Georgia win (1): 8.60
- Draw (X): 5.10
- Portugal win (2): 1.37