Georgian national team lost the first match in qualifying round of European championship. In case of playing draw -0:0 Latvians would be satisfied too, but happened that what is common to the history of the national team - goal moments,apparent advantage and defeat.
But it does not justify “cruasandars”, who played very bad at penalty area as well as inside it. After getting goal in their goal, Georgian team seemed to be demoralized.
It happened the first time while coaching Ketsbaia. After the match, Ketsbaia stated:” you said so many times that Ketsbaia is lucky, that I am unlucky now”.
Georgia lost with the team which was considered as none-motivated team according to tournament situation. As a result, it lost theoretical chance of going through the next stage. As for the staff, it was the following: four forwards (Jano Ananidze back to the striker, Aleksandre Ishvili in front, Davit Targamadze to the right and Otar Martsvaladze to the left), Zurab Khizanishvili replaced injured Akaki Khubutia in centre, Guram Kashia played the first time as right-wing defender. Kaladze played on the left-wing. Khizanishvili was playing in duet with Aleko Amisulashvili in the centre. Levan Kobiashvili and Jaba Kankava played as midfielders, Giorgi Loria played as a goalkeeper.
Georgians got advantages in the first half and they had several chances to score, but they were unlucky and did not have relevant class.
At the second moment Ananidze entered to the penalty area, passed away two defenders but could not manage to kick. Soon, Iashvili assisted to Martsvaladze who was into the penalty area, forward of “Krasnodar” kicked and the ball touched the goalpost. Georgians took advantages and at the 20th minutes Targamadze kicked, but the ball again touched the goalpost and then the goalkeeper parried it out.
At the 27th minutes Latvians attacked and Cauna kicked, the ball again touched the goalpost, but this time Georgians’ one. Latvian defensive line was making several mistakes, but in spite of it the score was – 0:0 on the board. Iashvili and Martsvalade’s assists were not correct and it was very distinguished.
In the second half, Martsvaladze again tried to score, but could not manage. After that, Shota Grigalashvili kicked in direction of Latvian goal, but the goalkeeper parried the ball out and saved the situation. And unexpected goal: Cauna kicked penalty kick at the 64th minute, Loria obviously confused, lost control and – 0:1. So, Cauna scored goal in Riga as well as in Tbilisi. After that Georgian team looked like demoralized and was making elementary mistakes. At the end of the match, Dvalishvili who appeared on the pitch in the second half kicked dangerously, but without any result. Finally, Kankava kicked, but Latvian goalkeeper managed to parry the ball out.
P.S. A lot of bad things happened in this match and in a word it is destroy of the dreams:
1. It turned to clear that the possibilities of Georgian national team were excess. Some of them imagine himself in Poland-Ukraine in spring;
3. The class of several players, in particular some of them was excessive (if it can be called “class”);
4. It is horriblewhen fans whistle to players and the player frowns to spectator. It is clear, that that without respect it is difficult to think about success;
A lot of things can be said, but Ketsbaia said it himself in the best way after the match - Regained consciousness, when national team loses 2:7, how can you be optimistic.
After the match:
Aleksand Starkovs: - It was a difficult match for us, because we were playing against favorite. I have new team staffed with young players and such matches bring big experience to them. I would like to thank our fans, who were quite many at the tribunes. I would like to thank Georgia side too for a good hosting.
- Did you expect to win this match? Or you would be satisfied in case of playing draw? Tell us sincerely.
- I expected to win this match. But if our goalkeeper did not parry the ball our draw would be inevitable. I want to say, that Georgian team is a good team and their players are stronger than ours, but today we are winners.
Temur Kestbaia:-It is an unwritten law, if you do not goal you will get a goal in your goal. When you have so many chances, you have to use it. It is unfortunate, that we lost in Tbilisi. We had theoretical chance of going through the group and we missed this opportunity. We should not make tragedy due to his failure, but it is bad when you play home match, you are favorite and you loose.
- You are expected to have a strict talk with players.
- What to say… what I saw, they were determined and they were fighting. As for the quality of the match, it was normal. Our players did not have so many chances of scoring in 10 matches as they had in this match.
- You lost four matches in a row. Are you going to resign?
- If my resignation is necessary for Georgian football I will resign right now. You asked in such way, if I answer “yes, I am going”, you will give a big party tonight.
- So, you are satisfied with quality of playing?
- Yes, I am.
-Georgian national team played offensive football in two last matches and lost them. Before it you were secondary and the result was better. Is not it strange?
- That’s a football and that’s an interesting. Unfortunately, Georgian team is not a team which does not loose matches. Today we were favorites, had home match and lost, it is a pity.
- Some of the players of the team is old. And yesterday Georgian national youth team lost 2:7 with Spain, but something good happened. We saw young Georgian players…
- It is disastrous for Georgian football. What was good? Regained consciousness a little, is it possible to be satisfied after yesterday’s match? When I was watching Spanish players, how easily they were playing, how easily they were moving, how cleverly they were playing… that’s a football.
- The question: what is a way out?
- We have to work. Some of the clubs in national championship already have new owners. There is a developing process underway.
- Who were distinguished in today’s match?
- I do not want to distinguish any of them. Everyone should take responsibility. To tell the truth, I played big role in today’s failure. I am a coach and most of all it is my fault.
- Do not you think to call psychologist for national team?
- We want players and not psychologists.
Euro-2012. Qualifying round. Group F.
2.09. 2010. 21:00 o’clock. Tbilisi. "Mikheil Meskhi". 15000 spectators
Georgia-Latvia 0:1 (0:0)
Georgia: Loria, Kashia, Khizanishvili, Amisulashvili (Dvalishvili 71), Kaladze, Kankava, Kobiashvili, Ananidze (Grigalashvili 55), Martsvaladze, Iashvili (Siradze 55), Targamadze.
Head coach:Temur Ketsbaia.
Latvia:Vanins, Klava, Krjauklis, Fertovs, Ivanovs, Lazdnis (Laizans 88), Gorkss, Cauna, Visnakovs, Lukjanovs, Verjakovskis (Gauracs 77).
Head coach: Aleksandrs Starkovs.
Goal:0:1 Cauna(64).
Yellow cards:Kankava(11), Fertovs (22), Verjakovskis(40), Gorkss (50), Krjauklis (89).
Referee:Leontios Tratu(Cyprus).
Ilia Nanobashvili
Tournament situation
Greece 7 5 2 0 9:3 17
Croatia 7 5 1 1 13:4 16
Israel 8 4 1 3 10:8 13
Georgia 8 2 3 3 5:6 9
Latvia 7 2 1 4 6:9 7
Malta 7 0 0 7 3:16 0
