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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ben Fisher in Dortmund

Portugal stand in way of fearless Georgia’s pursuit of the unthinkable

Georgia’s players and fans celebrate their first European Championship point after the draw with Czech Republic on Saturday
Georgia’s players and fans celebrate their first European Championship point after the draw with Czech Republic on Saturday. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

“But, I mean, it’s Portugal,” came the typically frank and measured reply from the Georgia manager, Willy Sagnol. Minutes earlier, such was the giddiness surrounding the nation’s first point at a major tournament on Saturday, he had been given a standing ovation as he entered the press conference room in Hamburg from journalists who follow the team. The same went for Giorgi Mamardashvili, after his staggering goalkeeping display.

Conversation, however, soon flipped to the game in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday night and it was a case of carefully dousing the flames of unfiltered excitement. The obvious thing to say at this juncture is Georgia won’t stop dreaming.

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