Euro Recap: Mikautadze & Georgia create history against Portugal | OneFootball

In another day of packed final group stage action, the Euros provided more drama as Georgia and Metz star Georges Mikautadze qualified for the last 16 in style with a 2-0 win over Portugal, whilst Romania & Slovakia also punched their ticket to the next stage.

Georgia 2-0 Portugal: King Georges' European conquest continues!

FC Metz star Georges Mikautadze is continuing to write the history books for his national side at UEFA Euro 2024 as he cemented his place as the tournament's top scorer. More importantly, Georgia qualified for the knockout stages of a major international tournament for the very first time.

Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia broke his goal-scoring duct as early as the second minute with a low finish past Diogo Costa to get the affair underway in ideal fashion. It was time for Mikautadze to double that lead come the second half; after Georgia defended well against the threat of a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal side.

Following a foul in the box by Antonio Silva on Lochoshvili the referee declined to award the penalty-kick, but VAR intervened and showed the official to the monitor who then duly pointed to the spot. Mikautadze would step up confidently to dispatch his third goal at UEFA Euro 2024, slotting home and doubling his nation's lead.

Georgia are now the first European nation to qualify from the group stage in their first major tournament since Iceland at Euro 2016.

Romania & Slovakia qualify for round of 16, Belgium underwhelm

Slovakia and Romania played out a 1-1 draw which suited both parties as they qualified for the last 16 of Euro 2024. Slovakia opened the scoring via Ondrej Duda with a fine header (24') before Romania were awarded a penalty later in the half following a foul on Hagi, scored by Răzvan Marin (37').

Belgium were involved in a goalless draw against Ukraine which saw the latter eliminated from the tournament. Arthur Theate and co. couldn't find a way past Ukraine and have now failed to score in four of their last five group stage games at major tournaments, but have nonetheless done enough to secure a spot in the last 16.

THE STAT: Three is the magic number

Georges Mikautadze (born in Lyon) became the 1st player born in France to score three goals for a foreign nation in the history of the Euros, becoming also the first player under contract to a French club to score in three consecutive matches in the European Championships.