28 June 2024 , 14:06
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The former Prime Minister of Georgia has promised to pay the stars of the national team millions of pounds if they beat Spain to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Georgia, ranked 74th in the world, have been one of the biggest feel-good stories of the tournament after progressing from Group F courtesy of a stunning 2-0 win over Portugal earlier this week.
Willy Sagnol's side are the lowest-ranked team remaining the tournament after making it through to the knockout stages of their first ever major tournament. Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has pledged to reward players and staff to the tune of £8.4million after they secured a spot in the Round of 16.
And ahead of the biggest match in their history against Spain on Sunday night, he has confirmed that another huge windfall will await Georgia if they can pull off the unthinkable against Luis de la Fente's much-fancied side.
Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream political party, labelled the Portugal result as a "historic and dream victory". Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze were enough to shock the former European champions in Gelsenkirchen.
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Speaking ahead of Sunday night's match in Cologne, Sagnol spoke up the prospect of going toe-to-toe with the tournament's stand-out team so far.
Sagnol said: “Spain is coming, Spain is probably the best team of the first round so it's another big challenge for us. For sure we're going to fight to the last minute as we have done since the beginning of the competition.
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Georges Mikautadze celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal against Portugal (AFP via Getty Images)“It's still difficult to realise what we have done. It will probably happen when we eventually lose, and when we will go back to our homes and on holidays. I'm so proud of the players because of the image they have shown of Georgia. I feel very proud to be their manager.”
Despite being ranked over 60 places above Georgia in the FIFA world rankings, De la Fente insisted his team will be taking nothing for granted. He said: “We have maximum respect for them. They are a team that is having a great tournament. They defeated Portugal and we have seen that they have been improving and progressing with their performances.
“We will have to give the best version of ourselves to have a chance of going through. We will have to be very careful. The motivation that comes from beating Portugal will make them more dangerous.”