Portugal have already safely navigated their way into the knockout stages of Euro 2024 and on Wednesday night we will find out if Georgia can join them when the two teams meet in a huge match for the latter in Gelsenkirchen.
Portugal are not just through in this group they have already secured top spot so Georgia will be hoping that they take their foot firmly off the gas as they need to win to have any chance of going through.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the ITV1 channel in the UK with the build-up to the contest getting underway at 7.15pm. Kick off is at 8pm.
Georgia
I think most people would suggest that Georgia have been a bit of fresh air to this tournament. We have had to sit and endure some of the more fancied nations looking to contain and not really being entertaining to watch and then we have the lowest ranked team in the competition in the form of the Georgians who have gone at their opponents so far and probably should have more than the solitary point they have to show for their efforts.
The Georgians will know that they were a kick of the ball away from already securing qualification in the 1-1 draw with Czechia last time out when Atlanta United forward Saba Lobzhanidze was played clean through on goal but he lacked the composure to put the ball in the back of the net and win the game so if the minnows are to qualify they are going to have to do it the hard way and win here. If that is to happen they need to be composed in the final third but so much tighter in their own defensive part of the pitch.
Portugal
It has been the perfect campaign so far for Portugal in terms of the fact that they are through with a match to spare and can give their squad players a run out here and ensure that everyone feels involved in the competition. You could argue that they got a little bit fortunate in the opening match of the tournament when they came from behind to see off Czechia deep into injury time but they controlled things nicely against Turkey last time out.
Unfortunately for Portugal it looks like their route to the final got a lot tougher with France failing to win their group so that is something that could be a bump in the road for them with the pair set to meet in the quarter final should both get there but they have a chance to get form into squad members to ensure that they can attack the knockout stage with confidence. With a chance to shine here Roberto Martinez will hope his players put on a performance.
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Team News
Georgia put in a really good performance against Czechia last time out and that could lead to Willy Sagnol naming an unchanged side for what is rightly being described as the biggest in the history of the country.
Roberto Martinez was expected to make wholesale changes to this side for this match but he has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will start. He will be without Rafael Leao who is suspended after picking up two yellow cards.
Betting
I think we have to expect goals in this match. I thought we would get goals all along in this group and we haven’t been disappointed with the only match which hasn’t gone over 2.5 goals being the Georgia one against Czechia and that one contained a combined xG of 3.63 so that should have safely covered the line as well. Georgia have to win this match which is naturally going to lead to plenty of goal chances over the course of the 90 minutes.
Georgia are likely to get to go at a weakened Portugal defence here with the likes of Pepe, so impressive against Turkey last time out, surely rested for this one while even though Portugal will make changes up top the drop off is nothing like it would be for other nations. Georgia have faced 49 shots in this tournament, 20 of them which have hit the target and now face a vibrant Portugal side. I don’t think the Georgian keeper can keep saving them so Portugal could easily cover a 2.5 goal line themselves. They might not need to though so I’ll play the over here.
Tips
Back Over 2.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Bet365
