June 22 – Czechia were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw versus Euro debutants Georgia as the bouncing Volksparkstadion in Hamburg witnessed a game with no winners, in more ways than one.
The result ties both teams to the foot of Group F, leaving them with a slender chance of progression, if, they can fashion a win versus big dogs Portugal or a reinvented Turkey side next week.
Controlling possession and creating the lion’s share of chances, the Czechs will feel that yet another result has slipped away from them in what has been a very frustrating tournament for Ivan Hasek’s side.
Though the headlines will be stolen by goalscorers Georges Mikautadze and Patrik Schick, Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili put up an inspired performance between the sticks and was good value for his Man of the Match award.
The towering Georgian completed a staggering 11 saves to earn his team a point. From a personal perspective, the impressive display may have earned the Valencia and Georgian keeper a big money move this summer.
Whilst the atmosphere was electric on both sides, the Georgian support were particularly fierce throughout, with some even infiltrating the press box equipped with Georgian flags and pints of Bitburger.
As a singular unified voice, the Georgians were quick to verbally wrestle any attempt of noise by the Czech fans. Sweeping crowds of red and white took over the streets of Hamburg in the buildup to the game, chaperoned by police cars as a sort of tunnel outside the Volksparkstadion.
With both teams rooted to the bottom of Group F, both teams needed a win to improve their chances of progression from the group.
Georgia boss Willy Sagnol made one change to his opening day line up that suffered a 3-1 defeat to Turkey.
Despite finishing that game empty handed, the Georgians had plenty of confidence after their aggressive and entertaining performance versus the Turks, only conceding to moments of magic from Arda Guler and Mert Muldur alongside a last-minute break into an empty net.
Bordeaux winger Zuriko Davitashvili came in to the staring line-up, allowing Georgia to attack with more width whilst returning star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to his favoured left wing.
The Czechs were similarly unlucky in their opening bout versus Portugal, who scored at the death to snatch all three points. Eager to take advantage of a less experienced opponent, Hasek lined up his side in a more aggressive 3-4-3 formation, substituting out three left-sided attacking players in favour of younger, more explosive options.
Bayer Leverkusen youngster Adam Hlozek marked an important addition to the lineup, providing some top-level young talent to match the likes of his opposite number Kvaratskhelia.
The game opened with lightning pace and directness, as each side looked to out-counter each other.
Georgian shotstopper Mamardashvili was given plenty to do in the early stages with a series of crucial quick-fire saves to opening the match.
The first sign of game management was met with deafening disapproval from the Georgian fans, with Czechia eager to get a solid spell of possession under their belts before the game spiralled out of control. The Georgians, meanwhile, were revelling in the chaos.
With neither team really grasping control of the game, the first half allowed for entertaining end-to-end action with Georgia in particular refusing to come off the breaks.
Clearly becoming frustrated at Kvaratskhelia’s eagerness to bolt in behind, West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal earned the first yellow card of the match for a crunching tackle in the 17th minute.
Georgia inevitably alowed after the first frantic 20 minutes, which allowed Czechia to link up nicely with tidy one-two touch play.
Hasek’s side looked to have opened the scoring with a bizarre effort that ricocheted off of Adam Hlozek’s face. Although the goal was originally given, German referee Daniel Siebert chalked it off for handball after a brief VAR check.
They came close again minutes later as winger Vaclav Cerny scuffed the ball at point-blank range. In truth, it was easier to score than miss.
Not to be brought down by his disallowed opener, Leverkusen youngster Hlozek showed promise attacking down the left side, causing a real physical and technical problem for the Georgian defence. He forced a strong save from Mamardashvili at the half hour mark from a chance completely crafted by himself.
With the pace of the game slowed, Georgia’s star boy Kvaratskhelia looked Messi-esque in a free roaming role.
As Georgia confidence increased, so did Czech frustration. They had already picked up two yellow cards in the first 30 minutes.
With half time looming, Czech keeper Jindrich Stanek produced one of the saves of the tournament so far: a point-blank smothering of a close-range effort.
His work was undone seconds later, as the referee identified a Czech hand brushing the ball in the buildup to the save. After a brief VAR check, and to the roaring approval of Georgian fans, referee Daniel Siebert awarded the penalty.
Georges Mikautadze stepped up to dispatch the chance into the right side netting, sending the white-clad end into a frenzy and becoming the first Georgian to score two Euros goals in the process.
Refusing to roll over, Czech striker Patrik Schick forced yet another impressive save from Mamardashvili. Before Hasek’s side could capitalise on their newfound momentum, the referee blew for half time.
Moments into the second half, in which neither coach opted for reinforcements from the bench, Hoffenheim’s David Jurasek joined Czechia’s growing yellow card list with the team’s growing frustration abundantly clear. He was quickly joined by Tomas Holes for fouling Kvaratskhelia on the break.
Sensing a need for a switch in mentality, Hašek replaced attacking duo Hlozek and Cerny with Ondrej Lingr and Matej Jurasek in the 55th minute, marking the first substitutions of this hotly-contested matchup.
Czechia went on to quickly level the score via a close-range prod from talisman Patrik Schick following pinball in the Georgian box.
Smelling blood, Czech pressed forward and continued to threaten in the minutes that followed. As quickly as it hard built up, the pressure was released by the substitution of Patrik Schick, who limped off the pitch after picking up a knock.
From that point onwards, both teams made attempts to break into the box but also with one eye on protecting their precious point. This made for a noisy, aggressive but ultimately underwhelming ending to an otherwise rocket-powered tie.
That was until the dying moment of the match: 51,000 fans watched on as Georgia substitute Saba Lobzhanidze failed to find the composure to finish perhaps the best chance of the game, sending the ball sailing painfully into the Georgian crowd behind the goal.
The draw keeps both sides at the foot of Group F and needing big upsets in their final games against Portugal and Turkey to progress.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1719682370labto1719682370ofdlr1719682370owedi1719682370sni@g1719682370niwe.1719682370yrrah1719682370