Georgia national football team

Georgia
Nickname(s) ჯვაროსნები
Jvarosnebi (Crusaders)
Association Georgian Football Federation (GFF)
საქართველოს ფეხბურთის ფედერაცია
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Kakhaber Tskhadadze
Captain Jaba Kankava
Most caps Levan Kobiashvili (100)
Top scorer Shota Arveladze (26)
Home stadium Boris Paichadze National Stadium
FIFA code GEO
FIFA ranking 138 Decrease 12 (9 April 2015)
Highest FIFA ranking 42 (September 1998)
Lowest FIFA ranking 156 (March 1994)
Elo ranking 95 (31 March 2015)
Highest Elo ranking 49 (11 October 1995)
Lowest Elo ranking 108 (late 2009)
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Georgia 2–2 Lithuania 
(Tbilisi, Georgia; May 27, 1990)
Biggest win
 Georgia 7–0 Armenia 
(Tbilisi, Georgia; March 30, 1997)
Biggest defeat
 Denmark 6–1 Georgia 
(Copenhagen, Denmark; September 7, 2005)

The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major tournament from Euro 96 onwards, but have not yet achieved qualification. Home games are played at the Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi.

History

The history of Georgia national football team began in 1990, when the team played their first international match against Lithuania, the first country to accept an invitation. The match was held on May 27, 1990 in Boris Paichadze Stadium. Georgia were coached by Givi Nodia. The friendly match ended in a 2–2 draw. This was the only match prior to the declaration of independence on April 9, 1991. Soon afterwards the team played another friendly match against Moldova.

The Georgian Football Federation became a member of both UEFA and FIFA in 1992,[1] enabling Georgia to play competitive matches. The first of these came in September 1994, a 1–0 defeat to Moldova[2] as part of the qualifiers for Euro 96. Georgia finished third in their group, ahead of Moldova and Wales, but seven points behind second-placed qualifier Bulgaria.

Georgia failed to qualify for 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, obtaining 10 points and finishing in fourth place, level on points with Poland. At this time Georgia reached forty-second place in FIFA rankings.

In the Euro 2000 qualifying Georgia national team won one match, drew two and finished bottom of the group with five points. This marked the beginning of a period of decline for Georgian football.

The team finished fifth (and last) with seven points in their qualifying group for Euro 2004, although they defeated Russia with a goal scored by Malkhaz Asatiani.

In the FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifiers Georgia beat Kazakhstan away 1-2 and Albania 2-0 at home. They finished sixth (second bottom) with ten points in Group 2.

Georgia were sixth out of seven teams in the Euro 2008 qualifiers with ten points. They defeated Scotland 2-0 and the Faroe Islands 3-1 at home and 0-6 away.

Hector Cuper became the manager of Georgia in August 2008. During the qualification round for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Georgia failed to win any matches and finished sixth (and last) with three points. Cuper didn't extend his contract and on November 6, 2009 Temuri Ketsbaia was appointed as the coach of the Georgian national football team, Ketsbaia resigned as manager after a 4-0 defeat at home to Poland in the Euro 2016 Qualifiers on November 14, 2014, having previously stated he would do so before the match regardless of the result.

FIFA World Cup records

Finals record
Qualification record
Year
Result
Group
Pts
goal
place
France 1998 Did Not Qualify Group 2 10 7 - 9 4
South Korea Japan 2002 Group 8 10 12 - 12 3
Germany 2006 Group 2 10 14 - 25 6
South Africa 2010 Group 8 3 7 - 19 6
Brazil 2014 Group I 5 3 - 10 4
Russia 2018 To Be Determined
Qatar 2022 To Be Determined

UEFA European Championship records

Finals record
Qualification record
Year
Result
Group
Pts
goal
place
England 1996 Did Not Qualify Group 7 15 14 - 13 3
Belgium Netherlands 2000 Group 2 5 8 - 18 6
Portugal 2004 Group 10 7 8 - 14 5
Austria Switzerland 2008 Group B 10 16 - 19 6
Poland Ukraine 2012 Group F 10 7 - 9 5
France 2016 Group D
European Union 2020 To Be Determined

Manager History

2016 UEFA European Championship qualification

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Poland Germany Scotland Republic of Ireland Georgia (country) Gibraltar
1  Poland 5 3 2 0 16 3 +13 11 Advance to final tournament — 2–0 2–2 11 Oct 13 Jun 7 Sep
2  Germany 5 3 1 1 9 4 +5 10 4 Sep — 2–1 1–1 11 Oct 4–0
3  Scotland 5 3 1 1 11 5 +6 10 Final tournament or play-offs 8 Oct 7 Sep — 1–0 1–0 6–1
4  Republic of Ireland 5 2 2 1 11 4 +7 8 1–1 8 Oct 13 Jun — 7 Sep 7–0
5  Georgia 5 1 0 4 4 9 −5 3 0–4 0–2 4 Sep 1–2 — 8 Oct
6  Gibraltar 5 0 0 5 1 27 −26 0 0–7 13 Jun 11 Oct 4 Sep 0–3 —
Updated to match(es) played on 29 March 2015. Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Recent results and forthcoming fixtures

Current squad

The following players were called for the Friendly match against Malta on March 25, and the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Germany on 29 March 2015.
Caps and goals as of 29 March 2015 after the match against Germany.

# Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
GK Giorgi Loria 27 January 1986 31 0 Greece OFI Crete
GK Nukri Revishvili 2 March 1987 25 0 Russia Tosno
GK Mikheil Alavidze 5 November 1987 0 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi
DF Ucha Lobjanidze 23 February 1987 40 0 Cyprus Omonia
DF Aleksandr Amisulashvili 20 August 1982 37 3 Azerbaijan Inter Baku
DF Guram Kashia 4 July 1987 35 1 Netherlands Vitesse
DF Solomon Kvirkvelia 6 February 1992 8 0 Russia Rubin Kazan
DF Levan Kakubava 15 November 1990 4 0 Georgia (country) Samtredia
DF Giorgi Navalovski 28 June 1986 4 0 Russia Tosno
DF Lasha Dvali 14 May 1995 1 0 Turkey Kasımpaşa
MF Jaba Kankava (Captain) 18 March 1986 54 6 Ukraine Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
MF Jano Ananidze 10 October 1992 27 3 Russia Spartak Moscow
MF Levan Kenia 18 October 1990 25 3 Czech Republic Slavia Prague
MF Aleksandre Kobakhidze 11 February 1987 24 3 Ukraine Volyn Lutsk
MF Murtaz Daushvili 1 May 1989 24 0 Ukraine Karpaty Lviv
MF Tornike Okriashvili 12 February 1992 20 4 Belgium Racing Genk
MF Nika Dzalamidze 6 January 1992 6 0 Poland Jagiellonia Białystok
MF Valeri Kazaishvili 29 January 1993 5 0 Netherlands Vitesse
MF Kakhi Makharadze 20 October 1987 4 0 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
FW Levan Mchedlidze 24 March 1990 25 2 Italy Empoli
FW Giorgi Chanturia 11 April 1993 6 1 Romania CFR Cluj
FW Mate Vatsadze 17 December 1988 6 1 Denmark Aarhus
FW Bachana Tskhadadze 23 October 1987 3 0 Azerbaijan Inter Baku

Recent call-ups

The following players have not been called up for the upcoming matches but have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Roin Kvaskhvadze 31 May 1989 3 0 Cyprus Othellos Athienou v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
GK Omar Migineishvili 2 September 1984 1 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
GK Giorgi Nadiradze 14 March 1992 0 0 Georgia (country) Spartaki Tskhinvali v.  United Arab Emirates, 3 June 2014
DF Gia Grigalava 5 August 1989 20 0 Russia Anzhi Makhachkala v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
DF Akaki Khubutia 17 March 1986 20 0 Greece Kerkyra v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
DF Davit Kvirkvelia 27 June 1980 59 0 Georgia (country) Samtredia v.  Gibraltar, 14 October 2014
DF Giorgi Rekhviashvili 1 February 1988 0 0 Turkey Boluspor v.  Gibraltar, 14 October 2014
DF Teimuraz Gongadze 8 September 1985 2 0 Georgia (country) Chikhura Sachkhere v.  Republic of Ireland, 7 September 2014 PRE
DF Lasha Salukvadze 21 December 1981 37 1 Azerbaijan Inter Baku v.  United Arab Emirates, 3 June 2014
DF Giorgi Khidesheli 23 January 1988 3 0 Georgia (country) Zestafoni v.  United Arab Emirates, 3 June 2014
MF Mate Tsintsadze 7 January 1995 0 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
MF Giorgi Papava 16 February 1993 3 0 Cyprus Nea Salamis v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
MF Giorgi Merebashvili 15 August 1986 17 0 Greece OFI Crete v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
MF Giorgi Papunashvili 2 September 1995 2 0 Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi v.  Poland, 14 November 2014
MF Irakli Dzaria 1 December 1988 10 1 Georgia (country) Dinamo Tbilisi v.  Poland, 14 November 2014 PRE
MF Levan Khmaladze 6 April 1985 12 0 Cyprus Othellos Athienou v.  Gibraltar, 14 October 2014
MF Avtandil Ebralidze 3 October 1991 3 0 Portugal Gil Vicente v.  Gibraltar, 14 October 2014
MF David Targamadze 22 August 1989 20 2 Ukraine Illichivets Mariupol v.  Republic of Ireland, 7 September 2014
MF Grigol Dolidze 25 October 1982 1 0 Georgia (country) Samtredia v.  Republic of Ireland, 7 September 2014
FW Nikoloz Gelashvili 5 August 1985 23 1 Albania Flamurtari Vlorë v.  Poland, 14 November 2014 PRE
FW Vladimir Dvalishvili 20 April 1986 32 5 Denmark OB v.  Gibraltar, 14 October 2014
FW Otar Martsvaladze 14 July 1984 21 2 Russia Tosno v.  United Arab Emirates, 3 June 2014

PRE Preliminary squad.

Statistic

Most caps

2 Levan Kobiashvili 1996–2011 100 12
3 Zurab Khizanishvili 1999– 89 1
4 Kakha Kaladze 1996–2011 83 1
5 Giorgi Nemsadze 1992–2004 69 0
6 Aleksandre Iashvili 1998–2011 67 15
7 Gocha Jamarauli 1994–2004 62 6
8 Shota Arveladze 1997–2007 60 26

Top Georgia goalscorers

# Player Career Goals (Caps)
1 Shota Arveladze 1990–2007 26 (60)
2 Temur Ketsbaia 1991–2002 18 (50)
3 Aleksandre Iashvili 1998–2011 15 (67)
4 Giorgi Demetradze 1996–2007 12 (56)
Levan Kobiashvili 1996–2011 12 (100)
7 Georgi Kinkladze 1991–2005 9 (54)
8 Mikhail Kavelashvili 1994–2002 8 (45)
David Siradze 2004– 8 (24)

Georgia vs opponent

Opponent Wins Draws Losses Goals
 Albania 8 2 3 21 - 11
 Armenia 3 1 1 11 - 4
 Azerbaijan 2 2 2 8 - 6
 Belarus 1 1 1 - 2
 Bulgaria 1 1 3 6 - 15
 Cameroon 1 0 - 0
 Croatia 1 1 2 - 2
 Cyprus 1 1 3 5 - 7
 Denmark 1 2 4 - 10
 Egypt 1 0 - 0
 England 2 0 - 4
 Estonia 2 1 1 6 - 4
 Faroe Islands 2 9 - 1
 Finland 1 1 1 - 2
 France 1 3 1 - 7
 Germany 4 1 - 10
 Gibraltar 1 3 - 0
 Greece 1 6 5 - 14
 Hungary 1 1 4 - 5
 Iceland 1 1 - 3
 Iran 1 1 - 2
 Israel 1 2 3 4 - 7
 Italy 1 7 2 - 14
 Jordan 1 3 - 2
 Kazakhstan 1 1 1 2 - 2
 Latvia 2 2 3 9 - 10
 Lebanon 2 4 - 7
 Liechtenstein 1 2 - 0
 Lithuania 3 1 3 9 - 6
 Luxembourg 2 1 5 - 1
 Malta 5 2 1 11 - 5
 Moldova 4 2 4 14 - 11
 Montenegro 1 1 1 - 2
 New Zealand 1 1 - 3
 Nigeria 1 1 - 5
 Northern Ireland 1 1 - 4
 Norway 3 1 - 6
 Paraguay 1 0 - 1
 Poland 1 3 4 - 9
 Portugal 1 0 - 2
 Qatar 1 2 -1
 Republic of Ireland 6 4 - 14
 Romania 2 4 3 - 14
 Russia 1 1 1 3 - 4
 Saudi Arabia 1 2 - 0
 Scotland 1 2 3 - 3
 Slovakia 1 2 - 0
 Slovenia 1 1 2 4 - 5
 South Africa 1 4 - 1
 Spain 2 0 - 3
  Switzerland 1 1 1 - 4
 Tunisia 1 1 3 - 1
 Turkey 1 1 3 5 - 12
 Ukraine 3 5 5 - 14
 United Arab Emirates 1 0 - 1
 Uruguay 1 2 - 0
 Wales 3 8 - 1
57 Countries 573799215 - 284

Georgian unofficial games

Opponent Wins Draws Losses
 Georgia 1
 Germany 1
 Moldova 1
Bahia 1
Freiburg 1
FC Köln 1
6 Teams 312

References

  1. ↑ "Georgian Football Federation". UEFA. Retrieved December 30, 2006.
  2. ↑ "Georgia – International Results". RSSSF. Retrieved December 30, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Georgia – International Results". eu-football.info. Retrieved December 30, 2015. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links

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