Preview: Georgia vs Czech Republic – Prediction, Team News, Lineups

Georgia And Czech Republic start their 2024-25 season UEFA Nations League campaigns with an opening match on Saturday evening at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.

Both nations are in action for the first time since competing in the same group at Euro 2024 and are aiming for promotion from Group 1 of League B along with Ukraine and Albania.

Game Preview

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Georgia took part in a major tournament for the first time in its history as an independent nation this summer and surprised many by reaching the knockout stages, as the country was the lowest-ranked team at the 2024 European Championship.

Willy SagnolThe Portuguese team picked up four points from three group matches, including all three points in an important 2-0 win against Portugal, and made it into the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.

Georgia's fairytale journey was ultimately ended by a 4-1 defeat to champions Spain, but the Crusaders left the tournament in Germany with their heads held high and Sagnol is now aiming for a successful season in the Nations League.

Georgia, currently ranked 70th in the world by FIFA, secured promotion from League C of the Nations League in the 2022/23 season after winning five of their six matches and drawing one to comfortably top their group ahead of Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Gibraltar.

Georgia have lost just three of their last 11 international matches in all competitions, including two against Spain, and their home record also bodes well for Saturday's clash with the Czech Republic: the team has lost just one of their last 13 games in front of their own fans since November 2021.

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Three years after reaching the quarter-finals of the European Championship, the Czech Republic was eliminated in the group stage of Euro 2024, finishing last with just one point.

This single point was achieved in a 1-1 draw against none other than Georgia – Patrick SchickThe goal in the second half cancelled out a penalty from the first half. Georges Mikoutadze – and also lost 2-1 against both Portugal and Turkey.

Ivan Hasekwho was appointed head coach in January, won each of his first four games as coach of the Czech Republic ahead of the 2024 European Championship. His task now is to reignite the spark the team had at the beginning of the year and start the Nations League season on a positive note.

The Czech Republic, ranked 47th in the world by FIFA after falling 13 places since the conclusion of the 2024 European Championship, were relegated from League A of the 2022–23 Nations League after losing four of their six group matches, finishing behind Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.

Hasek's side will be hoping to improve their away form, having won just three of their last 13 away matches (excluding Euro 2024 matches) heading into Saturday's clash with Georgia. However, they did beat Norway 2-1 in their last away game in March.

Georgia Form (All Competitions):

Czech Republic Form (all competitions):

Team News

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Midfielder from Georgia Jaba Kankava38, has retired from the national team after 101 appearances for his country, while players like Solomon Kvirkvelia, Nika Kvekveskiri, Levan Shengelia And Giorgi Kvilitaia have all been dropped from Sagnol’s squad since the 2024 European Championship.

Liverpool's new signing Giorgi Mamardashviliwho has returned to Valencia on loan, saved a remarkable 29 shots at Euro 2024 – more than twice as many as his closest rivals – and is expected to be between the posts on Saturday.

Georges Mikautadze, one of six players sharing the Euro 2024 Golden Shoe with three goals, now plays in Ligue 1 for Lyon and is expected to start in attack for Georgia, while the Napoli star Chvicha Kvaratskhelia and captain with 117 international matches Guram Kashia could also be named in the starting eleven.

As for the Czech Republic, midfielder Matej Jurasek has withdrawn from the squad due to injury, while Antonin Barak, Jindrich Stanek, Thomas Holes And David Jurasek Hasek's squad is missing notable players.

Bayer Leverkusen's Matej Kovar is set to become the Czech Republic's new number one goalkeeper and he could be protected by a three-man chain. Robin Hranac, Ladislav Krejci And David Zimawith Vladimir Coufal and either Lukas Provod or without lid Matej Rynes play as a full-back.

Patrik Schick has scored 20 goals in 40 games for his country and is expected to start in attack, while captain Thomas Soucek is expected to play his 73rd international match in central midfield.

Possible starting lineup for Georgia:
Mamardashvili; Lochoshvili, Kashia, Dvali; Kakabadze, Kochorashvili, Altunashvili, Tsitaishvili; Davitashvili, Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia

Possible starting eleven for the Czech Republic:
Kovar; Zima, Hranac, Krejci; Coufal, Soucek, Kral, Rynes; Lingr, Hlozek; Chic

We think: Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic

Having trailed at half-time in each of their last four Nations League matches, the Czech Republic will be hoping to make an early impact and tame Georgia's attacking threat.

Both sides are expecting good chances on Saturday, but we can assume that the spoils will be shared this time, as was the case at the 2024 European Championship.

Click here to see a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match.

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