Many people may not to know (or not to remember), that the first Georgian national team, which went through final stage of European and World Championship was U-16 team trained by Rezo Gagua. In fall 1996 U-16 team went through final stage and final stage was held between 16 teams from April 28 till May 10 in 1997 in Germany.

We would like to move in the past from transfer fever period and briefly to talk about 1997-year championship.
These following players were in U-16 team at that time: goalkeeper- Giorgi Somkhishvili, Zurab Khizanishvili, Lado Burduli, Oleg Gvelesiani, Lasha Jakobia, Irakli Shengelia, Mikheil Soselia, Archil Romanidze, Shalva Apkhazava, Giorgi Loladze, Lado Kakashvili, Edik Sajaia, Giorgi Dekanoidze, Archil Mchedlishvili, Paata Chakhunashvili, Jaba Saimiashvili…
Several players are still playing from this ream and it goes without saying that the most famous is Khizanishvili. Georgian football fans also do not need characterization of Burduli, Dekanosidze, Jakobia, Sajaia, Somkhishvili and Gvelesiani.
According to the main staff it can be said that Rezo Gagua, really had very talented players in the team.
Shalva Apkhazava was one of the best strikers in this following team – he was very successful in “Dinamo” Batumi and “Arsenal” Kiev, in January 2004 he died at the age of 23… due to heart attack. He held 128 matches and scored 32 goals for “Dinamo” Batumi and played 38 matches and scored 17 goals for “Arsenal”. As for Jakobia, player of “Zakarpatie” was very effective either in 1997 or in age teams. In his youth he scored great deal of goals.
Greece and Bulgaria were competitors of Georgia in qualifying round. Three teams had to play against each other and only the first place winner used to go through the final stage. The matches used to be held in Greece and in the first match Georgian team played draw with host team 4:4 – Lasha Jakobia scored hat-trick and before time-out Georgian team was winning 3:1, then was to lose 3:4, but Apkhazava equalized.

In the second match Georgians beat Bulgarian 4:0 and as a result went through final stage. Apkhazava scored double in this match, as for other two goals, Jakobia and Mchedlishvili scored.

It is remarkable that Holland, England, Portugal, Russia, Croatia and other teams could not manage to go through the final stage…
Unfortunately, in final stage Georgians lost all the three matches, the first match with Hungary 3:6 (Gvelesiani -1, Jakobia -2). Italian national team managed to beat Georgians in the second match 3:5 (Jakobia, Dekanosidze, Gvelesiani scored).
As for the third match, it was held against Belgium 1:5. Dekanosidze scored a goal in this match.

Georgian and Israel could not manage to gain any point at this tournament. Spain became champions, its goalkeeper was legendary Spanish goalkeeper of “Real” Madrid - Iker Casillas. Spain won over German team 2:1 in semi-final, as for the second semi-final match Austria managed to beat Switzerland in penalty serie. In final match Spain won over Austrian team in penalty serie 5:4.
By the way, at the end of July 1997, Georgian youth team (U-17 team with the same staff) won Youth Olympiad in Portugal.
Georgians beat host Portuguese team 3:2 (goals: Jakobia -2, Digmelashvili), in the second match won over Azerbaijan 1:0 (Jakobia) and in final beat Lithuania in penalty serie 6:5.
Besides Digmelashvili these following players were distinguished in Portugal: goalkeeper Zurab Batiashvili, Valery Abramidze, Levan Korgalidze, Tsezar Khurodze, Soso Devidze and Rezo Gagua’s son – Valery Gagua (now he is trainer in “Dinamo Academy”).
To my mind it is pleasant to remind – Georgian national team (no matter which one it can be), not every year it goes through final stage..

Ilia Nanobashvili