In Rieka, the Georgian under-21 boys’ team faced Croatia in the UEFA 2025 U21 European Championship qualifying round playoff match. Georgians defeated Croatian counterparts in two matches and will compete for the European Championship for the second time.
The first goal in the match was scored by Dion Bellio in the 11th minute; the score was equal to Luka Gagnidze’s goal in the 28th minute. In the second half of the match, with an eleven-meter shot at Georgia’s door, Belio executed the penalty precisely and scored a double. “Crusaders” again equalized the score in the 78th minute with Nodar Lominadze’s goal. The hosts advanced in the 92nd minute. The main time of the match ended with the victory of Croats 3:2.
The European Championship was decided by a series of penalties. The Georgian team won 7:6 in the penalty shootout. The goals were scored by Giorgi Kvernadze, Giorgi Abulashvili, Nodar Lominadze, Gizi Mamageishvili, Luka Latsabidze, Nikoloz Ugrekhelidze and Saba Khvadagiani from the Georgian team.
In the first play-off match “Crusaders” defeated Croats with 1:0. It is noteworthy that the Georgian youth team won the right to compete in the European Championship through the qualifying stage for the first time in history.
The youth team played for the first time in the European Championship of Footballers under 21 years in 2023. “Euro 2023” was hosted by Georgia together with Romania. Georgian footballers finished the competition in Group A of the European Championship in first place and were able to go to the quarterfinals.
The Ministry of Sports of Georgia congratulates the Georgian youth football team on this great success.
Georgia national under-21 football team
The Georgia under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. It is considered to be the feeder team for the senior Georgian national football team. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.
