Georgia national football team

Georgia
Nickname(s)ჯვაროსნები
Jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
AssociationGeorgian Football Federation (GFF)
საქართველოს ფეხბურთის ფედერაცია
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachWilly Sagnol
CaptainGuram Kashia
Most capsJaba Kankava
Guram Kashia
Levan Kobiashvili (100)
Top scorerShota Arveladze (26)
Home stadiumBoris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
FIFA codeGEO
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 78 4 (6 October 2022)[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)

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.

History

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,[2] enabling Georgia to play competitive matches. The first of these came in September 1994, a 1–0 defeat to Moldova[3] 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.[4]

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.[5]

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2022

25 March 2022 Friendly Bosnia and Herzegovina  0–1  Georgia Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
20:45 Zivzivadze 49' Stadium: Bilino Polje Stadium
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (North Macedonia)
29 March 2022 Friendly Albania  0–0  Georgia Tirana, Albania
18:00 Report Stadium: Arena Kombëtare
Referee: Nikola Dabanović (Montenegro)
2 June 2022 2022–23 Nations League Georgia  4–0  Gibraltar Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00
  • Kvaratskhelia 12'
  • Kashia 33'
  • Mikautadze 87'
  • Qazaishvili 88'
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
  • A. Iliev 50'
  • Stefanov 83'
Report
  • Davitashvili 4'
  • A. Hristov 31' (o.g.)
  • Zivzivadze 52'
  • Kvaratskhelia 58' (pen.)
  • Qazaishvili 69'
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
  • Zivzivadze 52'
  • Kvaratskhelia 62'
  • Kiteishvili 84'
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
  • Miovski 35' (o.g.)
  • Kvaratskhelia 64'
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
  • Annesley 75'
Report
  • Kvaratskhelia 19' (pen.)
  • Tsitaishvili 48'
Stadium: Victoria Stadium
Attendance: 1,199
Referee: Rob Harvey (Ireland)

2023

28 March 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Georgia  v  Norway Tbilisi, Georgia
18:00 Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
17 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Cyprus  v  Georgia TBD, Cyprus
20:45 Report Stadium: TBD
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
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 TBD, Spain
20:45 Report Stadium: TBD

Coaching staff

As of 20 June 2022[6]
Position Name
Manager Willy Sagnol
Assistant Manager Adel Chedli
Zurab Khizanishvili
Goalkeeping Coach Davit Gvaramadze
Analyst Irakli Chitauri
Levan Zamtaradze

Coaching history

As of 19 November 2019[7]

Players

Current squad

  • The following players were called up for the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League matches.[8]
  • Match dates: 23 and 26 September
  • Opposition:  North Macedonia and  Gibraltar
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 26 September 2022.[9]
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Giorgi Loria (1986-01-27) 27 January 1986 76 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
12 1GK Giorgi Mamardashvili (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 5 0 Valencia
23 1GK Levan Shovnadze (1997-11-19) 19 November 1997 0 0 Samgurali

15 2DF Irakli Azarovi (2002-01-21) 21 January 2002 10 0 Red Star Belgrade
13 2DF Grigol Chabradze (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 8 0 Dinamo Batumi
21 2DF Guram Giorbelidze (1996-02-25) 25 February 1996 11 0 Zagłębie Lubin
2 2DF Otar Kakabadze (1995-06-27) 27 June 1995 53 0 Cracovia
4 2DF Guram Kashia (captain) (1987-07-04) 4 July 1987 100 3 Slovan Bratislava
3 2DF Davit Khocholava (1993-02-08) 8 February 1993 39 0 Copenhagen
5 2DF Solomon Kvirkvelia (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992 47 0 Neftchi Baku
14 2DF Luka Lochoshvili (1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 4 0 US Cremonese

6 3MF Giorgi Aburjania (1995-01-02) 2 January 1995 35 1 Gil Vicente
18 3MF Giorgi Chakvetadze (1999-08-29) 29 August 1999 14 5 Slovan Bratislava
9 3MF Zuriko Davitashvili (2001-02-15) 15 February 2001 21 3 Bordeaux
16 3MF Nika Kvekveskiri (1992-05-29) 29 May 1992 49 0 Lech Poznań
17 3MF Vladimer Mamuchashvili (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 7 0 Dinamo Batumi
8 3MF Anzor Mekvabishvili (2001-06-05) 5 June 2001 6 0 Dinamo Tbilisi
19 4FW Heorhiy Tsitaishvili (2000-11-18) 18 November 2000 12 1 Lech Poznań

7 4FW Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 19 10 Napoli
11 4FW Saba Lobzhanidze (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 29 2 Hatayspor
22 4FW Georges Mikautadze (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 13 2 Metz
10 4FW Valeri Qazaishvili (1993-01-29) 29 January 1993 62 13 Ulsan Hyundai
18 4FW Budu Zivzivadze (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994 15 3 Fehérvár

Recent call-ups

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 Luka Gugeshashvili (1999-04-29) 29 April 1999 0 0 Qarabağ v.  Uzbekistan, 15 November 2021
GK Lazare Kupatadze (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 2 0 Unattached v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022

DF Lasha Dvali (1995-05-14) 14 May 1995 25 1 APOEL v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
DF Mamuka Kobakhidze (1992-08-23) 23 August 1992 4 0 Dinamo Batumi v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
DF Jemal Tabidze INJ (1996-03-18) 18 March 1996 11 1 Dinamo Tbilisi v.  North Macedonia, 23 September 2022

MF Sandro Altunashvili (1997-05-19) 19 May 1997 2 0 Dinamo Batumi v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
MF Valerian Gvilia (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 44 3 Raków Częstochowa v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
MF Jaba KankavaRET (1986-03-18) 18 March 1986 100 10 Slovan Bratislava v.  Sweden, 11 November 2021
MF Otar Kiteishvili (1996-03-26) 26 March 1996 28 1 Sturm Graz v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022

FW Nika Kacharava (1993-01-19) 19 January 1993 24 3 Jeonnam Dragons v.  Uzbekistan, 15 November 2021
FW Tornike Okriashvili (1992-02-12) 12 February 1992 50 13 Unattached v.  Uzbekistan, 15 November 2021
FW Beka Mikeltadze (1997-11-26) 26 November 1997 2 0 Newcastle Jets v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
FW Giorgi Beridze (1997-04-12) 12 April 1997 5 0 Ankaragücü v.  Albania, 29 March 2022
FW Davit Volkovi (1995-06-03) 3 June 1995 3 1 Sabah Baku v.  Albania, 29 March 2022

Notes
  • INJ = Withdrew due to an injury.
  • RET = Retired from the national team.

Records

As of 26 September 2022[10]
Players in bold are still active with Georgia.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

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 8314794/5
2002 831412123/5
2006 1224614256/7
2010 100377196/6
2014 81253104/5
2018 100558145/6
2022 82156124/5
2026 To be determined To be determined
Total0/76411173657101

UEFA European Championship

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 1050514133/6
2000 101278186/6
2004 82158145/5
2008 1231816196/7
2012 10244795/6
2016 1030710165/6
2020 103258124/5 (PO runners-up)
2024 To be determined To be determined
Total0/77019104171101

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Year League Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 1 1st651012240th
2020–21 C 2 3rd61416642nd
2022–23 C 4 1st651016333rd
2024–25 B To be determined
Total 18 11 6 1 34 11 33rd

Head-to-head record

As of 26 September 2022[11][12]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Notable results

Date Team Result Team
16 November 1994  Georgia 5–0  Wales
7 June 1995  Wales 0–1  Georgia
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
17 October 2007  Georgia 2–0  Scotland
20 August 2008  Wales 1–2  Georgia
26 March 2011  Georgia 1–0  Croatia
6 September 2013  Georgia 0–0  France
4 September 2015  Georgia 1–0  Scotland
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
25 March 2022  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0–1  Georgia
5 June 2022  Bulgaria 2–5  Georgia
9 June 2022  North Macedonia 0–3  Georgia
23 September 2022  Georgia 2–0  North Macedonia

See also

  • Football in Georgia
  • List of Georgia international footballers
  • Georgia national football team results
  • List of Georgian national football team captains
  • Georgia national under-21 football team
  • Georgia national under-19 football team
  • Georgia national under-17 football team
  • Georgia national futsal team
  • Georgia national beach soccer team

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  2. "Georgian Football Federation". UEFA. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  3. "Georgia – International Results". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  4. "Spain fall to Georgia in final friendly ahead of Euro 2016". ESPN FC. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  5. "Sweden shocker in Georgia opens door for Spain". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  6. "Მწვრთნელები - ეროვნული ნაკრები".
  7. "Georgia national team managers". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  8. "საქართველოს ნაკრების შემადგენლობა ერთა ლიგის მატჩებისთვის" (in Georgian). ნაკრები. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  9. "Შემადგენლობა - ეროვნული ნაკრები".
  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". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
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