If Georgia’s stay in Germany does end against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, oh what a blast they have had. Episode two of Georgia’s first European Championship was much like their first, an almighty ball: loud, fraught, dogged and occasionally ridiculous, a Royal Rumble of sorts as they and the Czech Republic tried to earn a priceless win in pursuit of the last 16. Georgia have recorded a historic first point on this biggest of stages but it could have been so much more, with the substitute Saba Lobzhanidze guilty of missing a dream-like chance to clinch victory with the last kick.
It was the moment of the match in a game that had plenty. There were 94 minutes and 45 seconds on the clock, 15 seconds of allocated added time to run, when Georgia poured forward on the counterattack after the Czechs got carried away, committing numbers in search of a winner. Suddenly – inconceivably – Georgia were 3 v 1 against the Czech centre-half Robin Hranac. Giorgi Chakvetadze, another substitute, stormed forward, galloping about 50 yards before spying Lobzhanidze to his right. Lobzhanidze took the shot first time but spooned his effort over. The substitutes anticipating ecstasy on the touchline collapsed in disbelief. Those in Georgian red crashed to the turf.
