Georgia are just one of the 24 teams who participated in the Euros 2024 in Germany. Here’s everything you need to know about the team and find out why their team badge features St. George slaying a dragon!

1. Their first official game took place in 1992

Until 1990, Georgia football players were part of the USSR team. When the country declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the football team played their first official match against Lithuania the following year. They lost 1-0 in Lithuania’s second largest city.

2. Their badge features St. George slaying a dragon

The Georgia football badge features a symbol of the Roman soldier St. George fighting a dragon. The saint is also a patron of the European city.

3. They play most of their home games in Tbilisi

The Georgia men’s national team play the majority of their games at Dinamo Tbilisi’s ground Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. Their second choice is Adjarabet Arena, the home of Dinamo Batumi.

4. Their captain is Guram Kashia

Guram Kashia is a central defender. Born on July 4, 1987, in Tbilisi, Georgia, Kashia currently plays for Slovan Bratislava as well as leading the national side. His brother Shota is also a professional footballer and plays for FC Chikhura Sachkhere.

5. Shota Arveladze is the team’s highest goal scorer

In a long career which saw the striker represent clubs like Dinamo Tbilisi, Trabzonspor, Ajax and Rangers, Arveladze played for the national team 61 times and scored 26 goals!

6. Their nickname is the Crusaders

The Georgia team is nicknamed Jvarosnebi, which means ‘Crusaders’ in English. This nickname represents of historical and cultural identity, and is a symbol of their fighting spirit.

7. Georgia hammered Thailand in their biggest victory

In October 2023, Georgia beat Thailand in a friendly match that took place in Tbilisi. Georges Mikautadze scored 4 goals in this thrilling game (for Georgia fans).

8. And some embarrassing defeats

A month earlier, Georgia suffered a 7-1 defeat by Spain in a Euros 2024 qualifying game. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili must have had a bad back after the game, picking the ball out of the net that many times.

9. The women’s national team are ranked 119th in the world

Despite having a decent recent record of wins, the Georgia women’s national team can count two matches as ones they might want to erase from the history books. They’ve been beaten 15-0 twice; in October 2009 by Denmark and in April 2022 by Sweden.

10. They beat Portugal in the group stage of the Euros 2024 

Georgia surprised everyone with their 2-0 win over Portugal in the group stage of the Euros 2024. Georgia player and opening scorer Khvicha Kvaratskheli – who hit the net after just two minutes – was named Player of the Match.

11. Their manager is Willy Sagnol

Willy Sagnol is a former player who was born in Saint-Étienne, France. Sagnol, a right-back, played for Saint-Étienne, Monaco and Bayern Munich and represented France 58 times. After some managerial experience at Bordeaux and Bayern Munich, he was appointed Georgia’s manager in 2021.

12. Georgia are yet to win any trophies

Their trophy cabinet is currently empty. Not a sausage.

13. The fastest goal scored by Georgia was 94 seconds

In June 2024, Georgia shocked the football world at the Euros in Germany by beating Portugal 2-0 in a group game. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the Georgian team’s account after just 94 seconds, while Georges Mikautadze sealed Portugal’s fate with a 57th minute spot kick.

14. 2024 marked their first-ever Euros

This was the first time the Georgia team had qualified for the European Championships and were pitted against Portugal, Turkey and the Czech Republic in the group stage. They placed third after earning 4 points and faced Spain in the round of 16. Their Euros dreams were dashed as Spain comfortably won 7-1.

15. Guram Kashia is their most-capped player

As well as leading the Georgia national team, Kashia has earned over 115 caps for his country and has scored 3 goals.