Czechia's Defeat and Georgia's Highlights at UEFA Euro 2024

In a historic first meeting between Georgia and Czechia, the Czech national football team has a track record of success when facing a nation for the first time, winning five out of their last six matches. However, they did suffer a 2-1 loss to Kosovo in their most recent such game in September 2019. On the other hand, Georgia faced Turkey in their first-ever match at the UEFA European Championship, joining only Slovakia and Northern Ireland as teams who lost their first-ever match at the EURO but still qualified for the knockout stage back in 2016.

Since their victory against Switzerland in their opening match at EURO 2008, Czechia has struggled in the group stages, losing seven out of their last 12 matches (W3 D2). They haven't lost their first two matches at a European Championship tournament since 2000 when they faced the Netherlands and France. Despite scoring the first goal against Portugal in this year's UEFA EURO via Luks Provod in the 62nd minute, Czechia suffered a 2-1 defeat. This marked the latest into a European Championship match that a team had scored first but then went on to lose.

During their match against Portugal, Czechia completed only 169 passes, the lowest of any team on MD1 of this year's UEFA European Championship. Additionally, they managed just eight touches in the opposition box, ranking third-lowest behind Scotland (2) and Albania (7). On the other hand, Georgia had 14 shots in their 3-1 defeat against Turkey, the most by a nation in their first-ever match at the European Championship since Austria in 2008 against Croatia.

Georgian player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia stood out on MD1 of this year's UEFA EURO, making the joint most dribbles (10) and contesting the most duels (20) of any player. He was the first player to achieve 10+ dribbles on his European Championship debut since Memphis Depay in EURO 2020 for the Netherlands. Among Georgian players in the same match, Giorgi Kochorashvili excelled in various aspects, ranking joint first for touches in the opposition box, top for completed passes, possession won, interceptions, and fouls won, while also assisting Georges Mikautadze's goal.

Czechia goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek made seven saves against Portugal, the most of any goalkeeper on MD1 of this year's UEFA EURO. This marked the highest number of saves by a Czechia goalkeeper in a European Championship match since Petr Cech in 2008, also against Portugal. Looking ahead, both teams will be aiming to improve their performance as they progress in the tournament and work towards qualifying for UEFA Euro 2024.