Sagnol revels in leading Georgia on remarkable run

Czech Republic's forward #09 Adam Hlozek (2L) kicks to score his team's first goal which was later disallowed after a VAR review next to Georgia's goalkeeper #25 Giorgi Mamardashvili (R), Georgia's defender #03 Lasha Dvali (C) and Georgia's defender #02 Otar Kakabadze during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F football match between Georgia and the Czech Republic at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on June 22, 2024. (Photo by Christophe SIMON / AFP)

VELBERT: Willy Sagnol ranked just qualifying for Euro 2024 with Georgia as one of the finest achievements in his impressive football career, but the Frenchman topped that by leading the tournament’s rank outsiders into the knockout stages where they face Spain today.

The country of 3.7 million people in the Caucasus sits 74th in the FIFA rankings and had never been to a major tournament since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.