Georgia’s national team are to be treated to a huge bonus by an oligarch (Image: Getty)
Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has promised the national team a £9million bonus for reaching the knockout stage of Euro 2024. Georgia, ranked 74th in the world, remarkably advanced to the next phase of the tournament after beating Portugal 2-0 on Wednesday.
Ivanishvili, an oligarch and briefly the Georgian prime minister, announced on Thursday that he would donate 30 million lari (£9m) to the country’s football team following their passage into the knockout rounds. The 68-year-old called the success a “historic and dream victory”, the BBC report.
He has promised the team the same amount if they cause a huge upset by beating Spain in their last-16 tie.
Georgia qualified for the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, finishing on four points. They drew with Czechia before causing the surprise of the tournament by defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-0.
Napoli star Kvicha Kvaratskhelia scored inside two minutes against Portugal. Georges Mikautadze added a second from the penalty spot midway through the second half.
Ronaldo was so furious with his performance and Portugal’s inability to break down a sturdy Georgian defence that he kicked the air following his substitution slightly beyond the hour-mark.
Kvaratskhelia has revealed that a pre-match chat with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star fuelled Georgia’s victory. Ronaldo did, however, wish the 23-year-old winger ‘success’.
“I got Ronaldo’s jersey and we’ve made it through to the next round. This is the best day in the lives of Georgian football fans. We’ve made history, no one would believe we’d make it happen,” Kvaratskhelia reflected.
“No one would believe we could beat Portugal but that’s why we’re a strong team; if there’s even a 1% chance, we’ve shown we can make it happen.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia shone for Georgia in their Euro 2024 victory over Portugal (Image: Getty)
“Before the match there was a meeting [with Ronaldo] and he wished me success – I’d never imagine he would come and talk to me.
“He’s a great player and a great person. That’s why he’s a great personality in and out of football; I have so much respect for him, he’s one of the best players in the world.
“When he comes to talk to you before the match, that’s amazing; that helped us believe we could do something today.”
Georgia face Spain in the last 16 and will have added motivation from the promise of another huge cash bonus.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1916280/Euro-2024-Georgia-Portugal-Cristiano-Ronaldo