Georgia national football team

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. Home games are played at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi.

Georgia
Nickname(s)ჯვაროსნები
jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
AssociationGeorgian Football Federation (GFF)
საქართველოს ფეხბურთის ფედერაცია
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachVacant
CaptainJaba Kankava
Most capsLevan Kobiashvili (100)
Top scorerShota Arveladze (26)
Home stadiumBoris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
FIFA codeGEO
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 89 (10 December 2020)[1]
Highest42 (September 1998)
Lowest156 (March 1994)
First international
Unofficial
Georgian SSR 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)

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 and Wales, 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.

In the UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying the Georgia national team won one match, drew two and finished 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.

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 To be determined To be determined
2026
Total 0/8 56916315189

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
Total 0/7 7019104171101

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Year Division Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 1 1st651012240th
2020–21 C 2 3rd61416642nd
2022–23 C Future event
Total 12 6 5 1 18 8 40th

Head-to-head record

As of 15 November 2020[5][6]

All Time Results

The following table shows Georgia's all-time international record, correct as of 17 Nov 2020.

Against Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA
Total2487553120285351

https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/georgien-team/21/

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

2020

5 September 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Estonia  0–1  Georgia Tallinn, Estonia
19:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: A. Le Coq Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lithuania)
8 September 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Georgia  1–1  North Macedonia Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00 UTC+4
Report
Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Peter Kjærsgaard-Andersen (Denmark)
8 October 2020 Euro 2020 play-offs SF Georgia  1–0  Belarus Tbilisi, Georgia
20:00 UTC+4
Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)
11 October 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Armenia  2–2  Georgia Tychy, Poland
20:00 UTC+4
Report
Stadium: Tychy City Stadium
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
14 October 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League North Macedonia  1–1  Georgia Skopje, North Macedonia
20:45 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Toše Proeski Arena
Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Poland)
12 November 2020 Euro 2020 play-offs F Georgia  0–1  North Macedonia Tbilisi, Georgia
21:00 UTC+4 Report
Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Attendance: 0
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England)
15 November 2020 2020–21 UEFA Nations League Georgia  1–2  Armenia Tbilisi, Georgia
21:00 UTC+4
Report
Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
Referee: Marco Guida (Italy)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-off match against North Macedonia on 12 November, and the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League fixtures against Armenia and Estonia on 15 and 18 November 2020, respectively.[7]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Giorgi Loria (1986-01-27) 27 January 1986 62 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
12 1GK Giorgi Makaridze (1990-03-31) 31 March 1990 17 0 Almería
17 1GK Lazare Kupatadze (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 0 0 Saburtalo

2DF Guram Kashia (1987-07-04) 4 July 1987 82 2 Free Agent
5 2DF Solomon Kvirkvelia (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992 41 0 Rotor Volgograd
2 2DF Otar Kakabadze (1995-06-27) 27 June 1995 38 0 Tenerife
8 2DF Gia Grigalava (1989-08-05) 5 August 1989 34 0 Arsenal Tula
3 2DF Davit Khocholava (1993-02-08) 8 February 1993 26 0 Shakhtar Donetsk
2DF Lasha Dvali (1995-05-14) 14 May 1995 16 1 Ferencváros
2DF Jemal Tabidze (1996-03-18) 18 March 1996 14 0 Ufa
15 2DF Mamuka Kobakhidze (1992-08-23) 23 August 1992 2 0 Dinamo Batumi
14 2DF Nikoloz Mali (1999-01-27) 27 January 1999 1 0 Saburtalo

7 3MF Jaba Kankava (captain) (1986-03-18) 18 March 1986 93 10 Tobol
3MF Valeri Qazaishvili (1993-01-29) 29 January 1993 53 11 Free Agent
6 3MF Murtaz Daushvili (1989-05-01) 1 May 1989 38 0 Anorthosis Famagusta
21 3MF Valerian Gvilia (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 32 3 Legia Warsaw
4 3MF Nika Kvekveskiri (1992-05-29) 29 May 1992 33 0 Honvéd
3MF Giorgi Aburjania (1995-01-02) 2 January 1995 19 0 Oviedo
3MF Otar Kiteishvili (1996-03-26) 26 March 1996 18 0 Sturm Graz
20 3MF Jaba Jighauri (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 19 0 Dinamo Batumi
23 3MF Saba Lobzhanidze (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 13 2 Ankaragücü
9 3MF Giorgi Chakvetadze (1999-08-29) 29 August 1999 9 5 Gent
19 3MF Levan Shengelia (1995-10-27) 27 October 1995 7 0 Konyaspor
18 3MF Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 5 1 Rubin Kazan
22 3MF Zuriko Davitashvili (2001-02-15) 15 February 2001 6 0 Rotor Volgograd

10 4FW Tornike Okriashvili (1992-02-12) 12 February 1992 45 12 Anorthosis Famagusta
11 4FW Giorgi Kvilitaia (1993-10-01) 1 October 1993 27 5 Anorthosis Famagusta
13 4FW Nika Kacharava (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994 24 3 Lech Poznań
4FW Elguja Lobjanidze (1992-09-17) 17 September 1992 11 0 Kaisar

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
DF Davit Kobouri (1998-01-24) 24 January 1998 0 0 Dinamo Tbilisi v.  North Macedonia, 8 September 2020
DF Giorgi Navalovski (1986-06-28) 28 June 1986 41 0 Dinamo Batumi v.  North Macedonia, 8 September 2020

MF Giorgi Kutsia (1999-10-27) 27 October 1999 0 0 Dinamo Tbilisi v.  North Macedonia, 8 September 2020
  • INJ Withdrew due to an injury.
  • PRE Preliminary squad.
  • RET Retired from international football.

Records

Lists of 10 players with the most caps and top goalscorers for Georgia, as of 10 June 2019 (players in bold are still available for selection):[8][9]

Managers

As of 19 November 2019[10]

Manager Georgia career Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
Givi Nodia 1990 1 0 1 0 000.00
Giga Norakidze 1991–1992 4 2 0 2 050.00
Aleksandre Chivadze 1993–1996 24 9 1 14 037.50
Vladimir Gutsaev (caretaker) 1996 2 0 0 2 000.00
David Kipiani 1997 7 4 1 2 057.14
Vladimir Gutsaev 1998 5 3 2 0 060.00
Gigla Imnadze (caretaker) 1998 1 0 0 1 000.00
Vladimir Gutsaev 1998–1999 8 2 1 5 025.00
Johan Boskamp 1999 5 0 1 4 000.00
David Kipiani / Revaz Dzodzuashvili 2000–2001 16 5 5 6 031.25
Aleksandre Chivadze 2001–2003 11 4 3 4 036.36
Ivo Šušak 2003 2 1 0 1 050.00
Merab Jordania 2003 3 1 0 2 033.33
Gocha Tkebuchava (caretaker) 2004 3 0 0 3 000.00
Alain Giresse 2004–2005 10 2 2 6 020.00
Gaioz Darsadze (caretaker) 2005 7 2 2 3 028.57
Klaus Toppmöller 2006–2008 24 7 4 13 029.17
Petar Segrt (caretaker) 2008 2 0 1 1 000.00
Héctor Cúper 2008–2009 16 1 4 11 006.25
Temur Ketsbaia 2010–2014 40 13 9 18 032.50
Kakhaber Tskhadadze 2014–2016 10 3 1 6 030.00
Vladimír Weiss 2016–2020 48 16 16 16 033.33

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

See also


Georgia national teams
Men's
Women's
  • Footballers
  • Football team
  • Results
  • Under-20 football team
  • Under-17 football team


References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  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. "Georgia national football team match results". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. "Georgia - International Results". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  7. "ვლადიმირ ვაისმა საქართველოს ნაკრების შემადგენლობა დაასახელა" [Vladimír Weiss named the composition of the Georgian national team]. Georgian Football Federation (in Georgian). 28 September 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  8. "Georgia international footballers of all-time". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  9. "Georgia national football team goal scorers of all-time". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  10. "Georgia national team managers". eu-football.info. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
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