The national football team of Georgia suffered a 3-1 defeat against Turkey in their first match of the European Championship.
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Mert Muldur, a member of the Turkish national team, scored the opening goal in the 25th minute. The score was leveled at 1-1 in the 32nd minute when Giorgi Mikoutadze found the net after receiving a pass from Giorgi Kochorashvili. The first half ended with the teams tied. In the second half, Turkish players Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu scored two goals against Georgia.
After the game, the head coach of the Georgian national team, Willy Sagnol, remarked, “Losing is never pleasant, although we showcased Georgian football in a positive light. We had many chances to score, perhaps as many as Turkey. However, in football, there can only be one winner. While we are not satisfied with the result, I believe we can take pride in our performance.
When the championship begins, our primary aim is, of course, to progress beyond the group stage. Our main goal is to demonstrate good gameplay, as this is crucial for the team's development. I am confident that we will maintain this level on Saturday and am eagerly anticipating the upcoming match."
The match at Signal Iduna Park Stadium in Dortmund kicked off at 18:00 local time amidst heavy rain and was tense. It is worth noting that prior to the game, there was a skirmish between fans of Georgia and Turkey. The altercation was promptly diffused by law enforcement officers.
The Georgian national team will play their next match against the Czech Republic on June 22 and against Portugal on June 26.