Georgia Vs Portugal Preview- Expected Starting Lineups, Injuries, Predictions, Team News, Head-to-Head Stats, Live Stream & TV Channels For Euro 2024

All eyes will be searching for Cristiano Ronaldo at the UEFA Euros match against Georgia. The excitement is so high that the officials raised security concerns about fans potentially disrupting the game with their desire for a selfie with the players. It is said that the security will be tight.

Now, after defeating Turkiye 3-0, Portugal faces Georgia next in what is a pre-knockout preparation game to round off their group campaign. After facing a loss and a draw in their group games, Georgia’s chances to reach the knockouts are bleak at this point. Only a humongous win against Ronaldo and co. and Turkiye’s simultaneous loss against Czechia will give Georgia a lifeline in the European tournament. The 2016 UEFA Euro Champions, on the other hand, await Georgia with a potentially reshuffled squad.

Portuguese coach Roberto Martinez is widely expected to shuffle his squad against Georgia, as they have already cruised into the knockouts. This means Cristiano Ronaldo’s feature for the Georgia tie remains ambiguous. Let’s now explore the injury reports, predicted lineups, and more of both squads, as they square off on Wednesday at the Veltins Arena.

Georgia vs Portugal: Injury news and expected lineups

Georgia injury news

As per the latest updates, the Georgia national team is not nursing any injury.

Additionally, Georgia coach Willy Sagnol stated, “… even if we only have a small chance to qualify, all my players and me will dream about that until the very end. Just to be here is a big deal for us: it means a lot.”

Georgia: expected starting XI

[5-3-2]: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Giorgi Tsitaishvili, Lasha Dvali, Guram Kashia, Solomon Kverkvelia, Otar Kakabadze, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Anzor Mekvabishvili, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Khvica Kvaratskhelia, Georges Mikautadze.

Portugal injury news

Roberto Martinez’s side is also free of any injury scares. However, Portugal will miss its star winger Rafael Leao because he has been suspended for picking up two yellow cards in the prior games. The referees booked Leao in Portugal’s opener against Czechia for fake diving. The star forward repeated the act in their win over Turkey and invited another yellow. With that, he became the first player in Euros’s history to do so in just one competition.

Martinez, while talking about his side, said, “It is an important game because the result will decide who will and won’t qualify. My team will be full of important players. Diogo Costa will be in goal because I don’t like rotating goalkeepers. It’s a very short tournament and we need Diogo to have a good understanding with the centre-backs. There will be no revolution: it will be a competitive team who will set out to win.”

Portugal: expected starting XI

[4-3-3] José Sá; Nélson Semedo, António Silva, Gonçalo Inácio, Diogo Dalot, João Palhinha, João Neves, Matheus Nunes, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Diogo Jota

Predicted lineup shows huge shuffling in Martinez’s squad as Cristiano Ronaldo misses out

Portugal will probably see skipper Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside their veteran core- Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, and Pepe start on the bench against Georgia. Martinez’s drastic shuffling explains itself. With knockouts assured, Portugal’s priority is the Round of 16 match at the moment.

Martinez will need the experience and expertise of Ronaldo and others in that do-or-die game. In a positive update, none of these Portuguese stars experience an injury or fatigue at the moment.

Georgia vs Portugal: Head-to-head

The two sides locked horns only once back in 2008. Joao Moutinho and Simao Sabrosa scored to power Portugal to a 2-0 win that day.

Georgia vs Portugal: Predictions

With two wins and a knockout ticket in hand, Portugal seems likely to make the best of Georgia. Though Georgia bowed against Turkiye in the opener, they gained back the momentum by settling Czechia for a draw. Let’s see if they can hold the momentum against a heavyweight like Portugal.

Meanwhile, even though Martinez has excluded veterans from starting, he might summon them later in the game to make things more interesting. So we predict Portugal to win 3-0.

Where to watch Portugal’s final group game?

The match will kick off on June 26 at 3 PM ET at the Veltins Arena. Fans can watch the game live on FOX, and live stream it on Fox Sports. Sound off your predictions on the game in the comments.