Today in Malta Georgian national football team holds the last match of qualifying round of European championship 2012 at “Ta-Qali”. The rival is Malta, which did not score any goal in this qualifying round. Statistics of “crusandars” at qualifying round of European and World championships is very interesting:
Since 1994, Georgian national team plays the 9th qualifying round matches, it managed to win 6 away matches from 43. In the first qualifying round match (Euro-1996) Aleksander Chivadze’s team beat Albania in Tirana on December 14, 1994 (1:0). There was not electricity at that time in winter and fans used to listen matches on radio.. at the 21st minute Kakha Gogichaishvili assisted to Shota Arveladze and he scored – 0:1.
Akaki Devadze saved this match many time, goalposts also helped Georgian team and finally everything happened in favor of Georgian team. It was very important victory, because as a result of it Georgians gained 6 points in four matches and they had a real chance of going through the second round.
In the same qualifying round, in spring (1995) Georgia won over Wales (1:0) in Cardiff. It was very important match, because “crusandars” still had chance of going through the next stage. Rivals of Georgia were – Germany and Bulgaria, semifinalist of Mundial.
At the 73rd minute “little genius” Giorgi Kinkladze scored very beautiful goal in this match.
Georgians managed to win away match in the next qualifying match (Mundial- 1998). The current head coach of Georgian national team –Temur Ketsbaia scored at the 10th minute against Moldova – 0:1. It happened in 1997, when Georgians did not have chance of going through the next round. There were very strong rivals in the group: England, Italy. Head coach of Georgian team was Davit Kipiani.
In 2000, in autumn Georgians won the fourth time. In this match, they won the first match of qualifying round of Mundial – 2002 against Lithuania 4:0. In the first half, Ketsbaia scored double and in the second half Kinkladze and Archil Arveladze scored. In four days, Georgia played against Italy. The first round was very good for Georgians, but finally they lost 0:2. Del Piero scored two penalty kicks in this match.
The fifth victory: in 2005, in summer Gaioz Darsadze had debut in national team as a head coach, Georgian team won over Kazakhstan 2:1. Georgians were losing, but in the second half Demetradze scored double. “Deme” was in good physical condition then and now as far as you know he is in prison unfortunately…
And the last victory. Claus Topmuller’s team won over The Faroe Islands 6:0 and started qualifying round of Euro-2008 with victory.
Shota Arveladze scored hat-trick in this match, Davit Mujiri, Aleksander Iashvili and Levan Kobiashvili (penalty) scored other kicks. Mujiri scored the most beautiful goal in this match. By the way, his mother died on that day and he heard it after the match…
Qualifying matches of Georgian national team:
Home matches: 43 matches– 15 victories, 12 draws, 16 failures, balls50:49, points54.
Away matches: 43 matches- 6 victories, 4 draws, 33 failures, balls42:86, points22.
Total matches: 86 matches– 18 victories, 16 draws, 49 failures, balls92:135, points76.
So, five years passed after winning away match in qualifying round, so it is time to win.
Ilia Nanobashvili
