Portugal, even after its reorganization, intends to continue its rise in power and its harvest of victories, on Wednesday (9 p.m.) in Gelsenkirchen against Georgia, the 2024 European Championship champion in survival mode, and very close to exit. The Seleção, led by captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been confirmed to retain first place, seeks to conclude Group F with its third victory in three matches, an impeccable victory achieved only by Spain, the other candidate to win the title.
A world of difference
Coach Roberto Martinez will tend to rotate widely during the seemingly unbalanced confrontation against the team led by Willy Sagnol, present for the first time in the European Championship. In fact, there is a big difference between the average Portuguese player and the Georgia rookie. More precisely, sixty-eight places in the FIFA rankings (6H For 74H) A gap in terms of the estimated value of their workforce: 1.05 billion euros compared to 161.05 million, according to the specialized website Transfermarkt.
However, the former Soviet republic, a candidate for joining the European Union, dreams of writing a page of history, driven by encouraging results and some talented individuals. Messi George Mikotadze, the top scorer in Euros twice, and Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhilia, the team's president, were subjected to the Turkish law (a 3-1 defeat) and the Czech Republic's suspension (1-1).
Too many players does not harm Portugal
A typical team includes players playing in Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Saudi Arabia or Cyprus, far from the highlands where the Portuguese play, whether as starters or substitutes.
The Portuguese squad is so rich that Martinez has not given a single minute of play to Danilo (Paris Saint-Germain), Mateus Nunes (Manchester City) and Joao Felix (on loan to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid). Perhaps the veterans Pepe (41 years old) and Ronaldo (39 years old) will make room to breathe and give the usual “hairdressers” time to play. Portugal will be keen to enter this exclusive club before moving on to the round of 16 scheduled for 1any July.
The match can be watched live on June 26 at 9pm on M6 and beIN Sports 1.
