Georgia beat group winners Portugal to reach last 16, Turkey through

Georgia's team celebrates their victory in front of their fans after the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F soccer match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena auf Schalke. Bernd Thissen/dpa

Giantkillers Georgia qualified for the Euro 2024 last 16 in their first major tournament, while Turkey joined them in going through from Group F as the Czechs crashed out and Hungary finally accepted their fate.

Portugal, the 2016 champions, had already won the group and their much-changed side lost 2-0 to Georgia after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave them a shock lead after just 2 minutes on Wednesday.

Tournament top scorer Georges Mikautadze then netted his third at these Euros from the spot in the second half to spark ecstatic scenes among fans of a nation gripped by political protest at home.

Kvaratskhelia said: "I told everyone that we could do it. We are a top team and we can fight like lions against any opponent."

The surprise win, Georgia's first at the Euros, sets up a dream meeting with Spain and means they progressed as one of the four best third-placed sides alongside Slovenia, the Netherlands and Slovakia.

Hungary, who have been waiting in third place on three points since Group A concluded on Sunday, are now eliminated on goal difference. Croatia, third in Group B, were previously ruled out of contention.

Turks battle through against 10-man Czechs

Turkey finish second in Group F after a late 2-1 win over the now eliminated Czechs, who were hampered by Antonín Barák being dismissed after two harsh first-half bookings.

Turkey captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored in style on 51 minutes, with Czech goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk appearing to dislocate his shoulder moments before the goal.

The Czechs hit back on 66 minutes through their own skipper Tomáš
Souček, but it was not enough for the win they needed as Cenk Tosun scored in stoppage time of a bad-tempered affair.

Ivan Hašek's side, who started without injured striker Patrik Schick, faced the ignominy of seeing former smaller partners Slovakia qualify for the last 16 earlier, a day after Slovenia had gone through as former big brothers Serbia and Croatia were dumped out.

Austria await Turkey

Turkey welcomed back playmaker Arda Güler, 19, to the starting line-up in Hamburg after fitness issues. But Vincenzo Montella's side initially stayed mainly on the defensive given a draw would guarantee safe passage and a Tuesday clash with Austria.

The Czechs had the better first-half chances, with Lukáš Provod going close and David Jurásek denied after they were reduced to 10 men.

However after a scramble in the box, where Staněk appeared to hurt himself but his attempts at attention were not noticed, Çalhanoğlu cracked home a crisp strike.

The keeper was then substituted but the Czechs did not complain about the goal and instead went up the other end and scored via another scramble, but to no avail.

The 1996 runners-up and 1976 winners as Czechoslovakia did get aggrieved when the referee blew his whistle for a foul against them before Jan Kuchta netted late on.

Substitute Tosun then rifled home four minutes into time added on to settle matters.

"You can't describe it, it is such a happy feeling," Tosun said. "We are second in the group and this is only the beginning, I'm really happy with my goal."

A late streaker led to chaos on the field and a player melee, with Czech Tomáš Chorý red-carded after the final whistle. There was also minor trouble in the crowd.

"We started well and were the better team," Souček said before criticizing the referee for the first-half sending off and other decisions. "Like I have said to all the guys, I'm so proud of them."

Portugal's Antonio Silva has nightmare game

Portugal - who now face Slovenia on Monday - were already assured of finishing top of the group so made eight changes, although captain Cristiano Ronaldo remained to lead the line.

A lack of cohesion showed straight away as Antonio Silva's stray pass was quickly seized on by Georgia and Napoli playmaker Kvaratskhelia coolly netted after storming forward.

Portugal had their opportunities but it was 2-0 in the second half after Silva again made the crucial mistake.

He felled Luka Lochoshvili in the box and Mikautadze became the ninth player to score in all three group games of a Euros after a video review.

Portugal's Joao Felix (L) and Georgia's Giorgi Kochorashvili fight for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F soccer match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena auf Schalke. David Inderlied/dpa
Georgia's Georges Mikautadze (R) scores from the penalty spot his side's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F soccer match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena auf Schalke. Bernd Thissen/dpa
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (R) and Georgia's Otar Kiteishwili (L) fight for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F soccer match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena auf Schalke. Bernd Thissen/dpa
Georgia's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2nd L) scores their side's first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F soccer match between Georgia and Portugal at Arena auf Schalke. Bernd Thissen/dpa

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