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Georgia national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Georgia women's national football team.
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Georgia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) ჯვაროსნები
Jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
Association Georgian Football Federation (GFF)
საქართველოს ფეხბურთის ფედერაცია
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Willy Sagnol
Captain Guram Kashia
Most caps Guram Kashia (101)
Top scorer Shota Arveladze (26)
Home stadium Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
FIFA code GEO
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 91 Decrease 2 (7 February 2019)
Highest 42 (September 1998)
Lowest 156 (March 1994)
Elo ranking
Current 69 Increase 16 (3 March 2019)
Highest 49 (11 October 1995)
Lowest 108 (late 2009)
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) 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, enabling Georgia to play competitive matches. The first of these came in September 1994, a 1–0 defeat to Moldova 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.

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.

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

Main page: Georgia national football team results (2020–present)

2022

2023

Coaching staff

Position Name
Manager France Willy Sagnol
Assistant Manager Tunisia Adel Chedli
Georgia (country) Zurab Khizanishvili
Goalkeeping Coach Georgia (country) Davit Gvaramadze
Analyst Georgia (country) Irakli Chitauri
Georgia (country) Levan Zamtaradze

Coaching history

As of 19 November 2019

Players

Current squad

  • The following players were called up for the friendly match against Morocco on November 17.
  • Match date: November 17
  • Opposition:  Morocco
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 17 November 2022.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Giorgi Loria (1986-01-27) 27 January 1986 (age 37) 76 0 Republic of Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta
12 1GK Giorgi Mamardashvili (2000-09-29) 29 September 2000 (age 23) 6 0 Spain Valencia
2 2DF Giorgi Gocholeishvili (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 22) 1 0 Georgia (country) Saburtalo
4 2DF Guram Kashia (captain) (1987-07-04) 4 July 1987 (age 36) 101 3 Slovakia Slovan Bratislava
5 2DF Solomon Kvirkvelia (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992 (age 31) 48 0 Azerbaijan Neftchi Baku
14 2DF Luka Lochoshvili (1998-05-29) 29 May 1998 (age 25) 5 0 Italy Cremonese
22 2DF Saba Sazonov (2002-02-01) 1 February 2002 (age 21) 1 0 Russia Dynamo Moscow
3 2DF Jemal Tabidze (1996-03-18) 18 March 1996 (age 27) 11 1 Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi
6 3MF Giorgi Aburjania (1995-01-02) 2 January 1995 (age 28) 36 1 Portugal Gil Vicente
18 3MF Sandro Altunashvili (1997-05-19) 19 May 1997 (age 26) 2 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi
3MF Giorgi Chakvetadze (1999-08-29) 29 August 1999 (age 24) 14 5 Slovakia Slovan Bratislava
9 3MF Zuriko Davitashvili (2001-02-15) 15 February 2001 (age 22) 22 3 France Bordeaux
10 3MF Otar Kiteishvili (1996-03-26) 26 March 1996 (age 27) 29 1 Austria Sturm Graz
16 3MF Nika Kvekveskiri (1992-05-29) 29 May 1992 (age 31) 50 0 Poland Lech Poznań
17 3MF Vladimer Mamuchashvili (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 26) 7 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi
13 3MF Anzor Mekvabishvili (2001-06-05) 5 June 2001 (age 22) 7 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi
7 3MF Levan Shengelia (1995-10-27) 27 October 1995 (age 28) 11 0 Greece Panetolikos
19 3MF Heorhiy Tsitaishvili (2000-11-18) 18 November 2000 (age 23) 13 1 Poland Lech Poznań
15 4FW Giorgi Beridze (1997-04-12) 12 April 1997 (age 26) 6 0 Turkey Ankaragücü
11 4FW Giorgi Kvilitaia (1993-10-01) 1 October 1993 (age 30) 35 5 Republic of Cyprus APOEL
8 4FW Saba Lobzhanidze (1994-12-18) 18 December 1994 (age 28) 30 2 Turkey Hatayspor
21 4FW Davit Volkovi (1995-06-03) 3 June 1995 (age 28) 4 1 Azerbaijan Sabah

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 Levan Shovnadze (1997-11-19) 19 November 1997 (age 26) 0 0 Georgia (country) Samgurali v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
GK Lazare Kupatadze (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 27) 2 0 Unattached v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
DF Otar Kakabadze (1995-06-27) 27 June 1995 (age 28) 53 0 Poland Cracovia v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
DF Davit Khocholava (1993-02-08) 8 February 1993 (age 30) 39 0 Denmark Copenhagen v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
DF Guram Giorbelidze (1996-02-25) 25 February 1996 (age 27) 11 0 Poland Zagłębie Lubin v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
DF Irakli Azarovi (2002-01-21) 21 January 2002 (age 21) 10 0 Serbia Red Star Belgrade v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
DF Grigol Chabradze (1996-04-20) 20 April 1996 (age 27) 8 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
DF Lasha Dvali (1995-05-14) 14 May 1995 (age 28) 25 1 Republic of Cyprus APOEL v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
DF Mamuka Kobakhidze (1992-08-23) 23 August 1992 (age 31) 4 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
MF Valerian Gvilia (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 29) 44 3 Poland Raków Częstochowa v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022
FW Khvicha KvaratskheliaINJ (2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 (age 22) 19 10 Italy Napoli v.  Morocco, 17 November 2022
FW Valeri Qazaishvili (1993-01-29) 29 January 1993 (age 30) 62 13 South Korea Ulsan Hyundai v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
FW Budu Zivzivadze (1994-03-10) 10 March 1994 (age 29) 15 3 Hungary Fehérvár v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
FW Georges Mikautadze (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) 13 2 France Metz v.  Gibraltar, 26 September 2022
FW Beka Mikeltadze (1997-11-26) 26 November 1997 (age 26) 2 0 Australia Newcastle Jets v.  Bulgaria, 12 June 2022

Records

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
Uruguay 1930 to Italy 1990 Part of the  USSR Part of the  USSR
United States 1994 Did not enter Did not enter
France 1998 Did not qualify 8 3 1 4 7 9 4/5
South Korea Japan 2002 8 3 1 4 12 12 3/5
Germany 2006 12 2 4 6 14 25 6/7
South Africa 2010 10 0 3 7 7 19 6/6
Brazil 2014 8 1 2 5 3 10 4/5
Russia 2018 10 0 5 5 8 14 5/6
Qatar 2022 8 2 1 5 6 12 4/5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 64 11 17 36 57 101 —

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
France 1960 to Sweden 1992 Part of the  USSR Part of the  USSR
England 1996 Did not qualify 10 5 0 5 14 13 3/6
Belgium Netherlands 2000 10 1 2 7 8 18 6/6
Portugal 2004 8 2 1 5 8 14 5/5
Austria Switzerland 2008 12 3 1 8 16 19 6/7
Poland Ukraine 2012 10 2 4 4 7 9 5/6
France 2016 10 3 0 7 10 16 5/6
European Union 2020 10 3 2 5 8 12 4/5 (PO runners-up)
Germany 2024 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 70 19 10 41 71 101 —

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Year League Group Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 1 1st 6 5 1 0 12 2 Rise 40th
2020–21 C 2 3rd 6 1 4 1 6 6 Same position 42nd
2022–23 C 4 1st 6 5 1 0 16 3 Rise 33rd
2024–25 B To be determined
Total 18 11 6 1 34 11 33rd

Head-to-head record

As of 17 November 2022

      Positive Record       Neutral Record       Negative Record

Notable results

See also: Georgia national football team results (1990–2019)
Date Team Result Team
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
26 March 2011  Georgia 1–0  Croatia
6 September 2013  Georgia 0–0  France
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
5 June 2022  Bulgaria 2–5  Georgia

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Georgia para niños

  • 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
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