The story of the two "number 7s" at EURO 2024

Fans flocked to the Veltins-Arena to witness Portugal's "number 7," Cristiano Ronaldo, make history, but they left disappointed after seeing Georgia's "number 7," Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, achieve a remarkable feat. The Napoli star, cheered on by over 15,000 home fans, led his national team through the group stage in their first ever appearance.

This will be a match that will live on in the memory of Kvaratskhelia, who scored the first goal in the 2-0 victory against Portugal. The team ranked 74th in the FIFA rankings somehow beat the 6th-ranked "giant".

Nearly 10 minutes after the final whistle, some Georgia players still couldn't believe the result. They temporarily forgot about their next opponent, Spain, and joined in the celebration with the fans.

Georgia created a fairytale story against Portugal. Photo: UEFA

Georgia may have lost to Türkiye in their opening match, but they still won over many with their energetic performance. They maintained that style of play to draw with the Czech Republic, setting the stage for a historic evening against Portugal.

Kvaratskhelia, a former Serie A champion with Napoli, is currently one of the best wingers in Europe. When in possession, the 23-year-old forward can create magical moments. Indeed, he took just 92 seconds to open the scoring against Portugal, finishing well after a pass from Georges Mikautadze. This was also the earliest goal Portugal has conceded in the history of the European Championships.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo did not start and only came on as a substitute for Goncalo Ramos in the 66th minute of the match. Just one goal was needed for Ronaldo, now 39 years old, to become the oldest player to score at the EURO. CR7 was already the top scorer (14) and most assists (8) in the tournament's history, but the next record will have to wait.

For the first time, Ronaldo failed to score in the group stage of a major tournament, ending an incredible run that began at EURO 2004.

Kvaratskhelia was named Man of the Match. Photo: UEFA

Kvaratskhelia, the star honored by UEFA as Man of the Match in the Georgia-Portugal game, said in a press conference: "I received Ronaldo's jersey and we've advanced to the next round. This is the greatest day in the life of a Georgian football fan. We've made history; nobody believed we could do it. Nobody believed we could beat Portugal, but that's why we are a strong team."

"Before the match, I had a meeting with Ronaldo and he wished me success. I never imagined he would come and talk to me. He's a great player and a great person. When he comes to talk to you before a match, it's amazing. That helped us believe we could achieve the miracle we did today," the Napoli player added.

As the Portuguese fans left Veltins-Arena, the Napoli jerseys mingled with the red and white Georgia jerseys, becoming more distinct. The chants of "Khvicha" have now become one of the most memorable moments of EURO 2024.

It remains to be seen how far Kvaratskhelia and her teammates will go, but this is certainly an unforgettable journey for them...

Source: https://laodong.vn/bong-da-quoc-te/cau-chuyen-ve-hai-so-7-tai-euro-2024-1358236.ldo