Euro 2024 Group F: Who can join Portugal in last 16?

admin admin | 06-26 16:15

Portugal's 3-0 victory over Turkey was marred by at least six fans invading the pitch desperate to get photos with Ronaldo during and after the game in Dortmund on Saturday.

The result secured Portugal qualification for the last 16 as Group F winners while Georgia need a win to reach the knockout stages.

It is still unclear if Ronaldo will play on Wednesday as coach Roberto Martinez suggested he would rotate his squad.

However, the five-times Ballon D'Or winner is never keen on taking breaks, especially in major tournaments, as he is obsessed with breaking and extending his records which include most goals, appearances and assists for his country.

At 39, Ronaldo would become the oldest player to score in a European Championship if he nets at Euro 2024.

The Turkish are second on three points while Czech Republic and Georgia are bottom on one.

Willy Sagnol's Georgia have a mountain to climb against the Portuguese after a heartbreaking defeat by Turkey and a draw with Czech Republic.

One point was arguably a harsh return for a battling Georgia side who hit the post late against Turkey and missed a good chance to beat the Czechs with the last kick of the game.

They still could finish second and qualify if they beat Portugal and the Czechs overcome Turkey, but would be eliminated if they lose or draw and the Czechs avoid defeat.

Meanwhile, Sagnol said only he selects the national side, responding angrily when asked whether forward Budu Zivzivadze's playing time at Euro 2024 had been limited because of his reported criticism of a new law on foreign agents.

The national team's first major tournament appearance has created a buoyant mood in Georgia, where there have been huge protests against a controversial law requiring certain organisations to register as "agents of foreign influence".

Zivzivadze has played only six minutes at Euro 2024.

"I want to take proper decisions based only on football fact," said Frenchman Sagnol.

"I can't accept that any longer – I'm a football coach, nothing else. Who plays and who doesn't play, it is my entire decision, that's it," he added.

Sagnol believes his side are unfortunate to have only one point from their performances in the first two matches.

"If, before the competition, we would have been told maybe on your third match you will still have the possibility to qualify, I think we would all have signed these documents immediately," said Sagnol.

Georgia's talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia thinks his side might be able to take advantage of the fact Portugal were guaranteed to finish top of Group F.

"Of course, it will be a very tough game," he said. "But psychologically and motivation-wise, we are more motivated than Portugal because Portugal is already through to the round of 16."

Kvaratskhelia is hoping to fulfill a childhood dream of playing against Cristiano Ronaldo, but was adamant Georgia would not be over-awed.

"It doesn't really matter, the names or surname of football players," he said. "We are there to win and this is what we have demonstrated versus the Czech Republic and Turkey."

Additional reporting by PA

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.


ALSO READ

KSE-100 index closes at 81,459.29, up 997.95 points as investor optimism drives market

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a surge in investor optimism on Thursday, as the bench...

Gold prices in Pakistan reach new record of Rs268,500 per tola

Following a decline in the previous session, gold prices in Pakistan experienced a significant incre...

Number of clinical health staff increasing - Health NZ

Health officials have been marking the growth in the number of full-time clinical roles as evidence ...

Hazard mapping has 'chilling effect' on Nelson property market

Proposed hazard maps for Nelson are allegedly preventing properties across the city from being insur...

Woman called 'bad mum' after chasing down child stealer

A woman who stole an 18-month-old baby told the girl's mother she didn't deserve children when confr...

'Weak' case against diabetic driver thrown out by Australian court

A magistrate has criticised prosecutors as he threw out their "weak" case against a diabetic driver ...