Turkey initially took the lead with a well-executed volley, but Georgia made history when Georges Mikautadze scored their first-ever goal at the European Championship, leveling the match. Guler then put Turkey back in front with a stunning strike, making it 2-1. The win was sealed in stoppage time with a breakaway goal from Kerem Akturkoglu, securing a successful start for Turkey in the tournament.
Report
In a thrilling Euro 2024 encounter, Türkiye opened their campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over Georgia, marked by a series of dramatic moments.
For much of the opening half-hour, Türkiye, led by the influential Hakan Çalhanoğlu, dominated proceedings with their attacking prowess. The woodwork was still reverberating from Kaan Ayhan’s powerful strike against the post when Mert Müldür unleashed a stunning volley from a headed clearance to open the scoring.
Shortly after, Kenan Yıldız found the net, only to have his effort disallowed for offside following a VAR review. Despite Georgia’s efforts to weather the storm, Türkiye’s relentless pressure paid off when Arda Güler struck a magnificent long-range goal to extend their lead.
However, Georgia showed resilience, with Georges Mikautadze pulling one back just past the half-hour mark by redirecting Giorgi Kochorashvili’s low cross into the net. Georgia came close to equalizing shortly afterward, showing determination amid challenging weather conditions.
As the rain poured down, Türkiye regained control in the second half, solidifying their dominance. Georgia continued to threaten, hitting the crossbar through Kochorashvili and seeing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s late free-kick bounce off the upright in added time.
In a final flurry, Georgia even sent goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili forward in search of a goal. Türkiye, however, sealed the victory decisively in the 97th minute from a corner, as substitute Kerem Aktürkoğlu calmly side-footed the ball into the empty net, securing Türkiye’s triumphant start to their Euro 2024 campaign.
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Player of the Match: Arda Güler (Türkiye)
According to the UEFA Technical Observer panel, his impact was profound in the second half when he operated centrally, causing numerous challenges for the opposition. His pivotal pass contributed to the opening goal, and his outstanding goal proved crucial in determining the game’s outcome. Moreover, he exhibited leadership qualities by effectively conveying instructions to teammates, significantly influencing their performance. Overall, his multifaceted contributions were instrumental in making a decisive difference in the match.
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Key Stats
- Arda Güler is the first teenager to score on his EURO debut since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2004.
- Türkiye won their opening EURO fixture for the first time; they had lost each of their previous five.
- Debutants Georgia are the 36th modern-day nation to feature in a EURO finals – and the 36th to score.
- Arda Güler, at 19 years and 114 days old, is the fifth youngest scorer at a EURO finals.
- Türkiye became only the second side in EURO history to field two teenagers in their starting XI (19-year-olds Arda Güler and Kenan Yıldız).
- Hakan Çalhanoğlu is only the second Türkiye player to feature in three EURO final tournaments after Rüştü Reçber.
- Türkiye have lost only two of their last 15 competitive matches (W10 D3).
Reaction
Vincenzo Montella, Türkiye Coach:
“It was a match worthy of the finals. We had 22 shots on goal. We need to be more accurate as we won’t always be able to afford to miss so many, but I did appreciate the performance. We relaxed a bit after the VAR disallowed the second goal, but that happens. I turned 50 today so this was the best present I could have received.”
Willy Sagnol, Georgia Coach:
“It’s never nice when you lose, but we can be proud of our performance, for putting Georgian football in such a positive light. I think we had as many chances as they did in the end. All that was missing was a bit of talent, a bit of experience – the sort of things we’re only going to gain through being in tournaments like this.”
Arda Güler, Türkiye Winger:
“It was a tough game and I congratulate my team for the win. It isn’t enough to say the support was great; it was more than that. It was great to get the win for the coach. I don’t care about personal achievements; I’m all about the team and I’m delighted to play my part.”
These reactions highlight the satisfaction of Türkiye’s win despite challenges, Georgia’s pride in their performance, and Arda Güler’s team-focused mentality after his notable contribution.