Chakvetadze hoping for Portugal upset as Porteous' Euro hopes end

Giorgi Chakvetadze will be hoping to help Georgia create more history after his pass almost set up a dramatic last-gasp triumph at Euro 2024.

Having impressed in their opening 3-1 defeat to Turkey in Group F, the Watford midfielder dropped to the bench for his nation’s second match against the Czech Republic.

However, Chakvetadze was introduced in the 62nd minute – three minutes after Patrik Schick had cancelled out Georges Mikautadze’s penalty in first half stoppage time.

With the game still level in injury time, Georgia had a golden chance to claim their first ever victory at a major tournament when Chakvetadze led a three-on-one counter attack following a Czech corner and his pass gave Saba Lobjanidze the chance to score the winner with the last kick of the game, only to fire over the bar from 12 yards.

"The ones who never try will never miss, the best way to miss is to try," manager Willy Sagnol reflected.

"The players were disappointed after this massive opportunity but they got their first ever point at a major tournament.

"The whole team had words with him to try and make him feel better. The player is feeling very down at the moment but we will do everything to cheer him up."

The draw did little to help either nation’s prospects of reaching the knockout stages, but Georgia know if they can upset Portugal, who have already qualified, in their final group game on Wednesday, they could finish second depending on the outcome of the Czech’s match against Turkey.

There will be no extended stay in Germany for Ryan Porteous after Scotland’s hopes of qualifying ended with an agonising 1-0 last-minute defeat to Hungary in Group A last night.

The Watford defender was forced to watch on from the sidelines as he served the remainder of his extended ban following his red card in the 5-1 defeat against Germany in Scotland’s first game.

Steve Clarke’s men had plenty of the ball but struggled to create chances throughout, but they felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the closing stages after Stuart Armstrong went down under a challenge in the 18-yard box.

Ten minutes of injury time was played following a sickening injury to Barnabas Varga and in the last of those Kevin Csoboth struck to end Scotland’s hopes.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Yaser Asprilla will be hoping to feature when Colombia start their Copa America campaign against Paraguay tonight at 11pm UK time.

Hornets club-mate Ismael Kone played 85 minutes as Canada were beaten 2-0 by world champions Argentina in their opening game in the competition at the end of last week.