Georgia ignore trouble at home to produce Euro stunner

Georgia had never been to a major soccer tournament before and now they are in the Euro 2024 last 16 against three-times winners Spain.

Their incredible story started with a playoff win over 2004 champions Greece on penalties to qualify for the tournament in Germany.

They then impressed despite losing 3-1 in their Group F opener against Turkey, before battling to a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic.

On Wednesday (Thursday AEST) they won 2-0 against group winners and 2016 champions Portugal, much changed but still with the great Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, in their ranks.

Ronaldo, the all-time top scorer in the Euros and the only man to play in six editions, failed to score in the group stage of a major tournament for the first time in his career.

Georgia kept him quiet and netted early via talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli and Georges Mikautadze's penalty as he became this tournament's top scorer so far with three goals.

Georgia coach Willy Sagnol told a news conference after their progression to the last 16: "To be honest, I can't remember what I said to the players before the game, but the message was to play their football; keep your discipline when you don't have the ball, and when you do have it, play.

"I told them to remember how they played when they were 16 or 17, without any thoughts, and they did it brilliantly today, above all expectations."

The team's success comes as the nation from the Caucasus region, right on the edge of Europe, is in the midst of a political crisis.

Georgia passed a law that tightens rules for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in receipt of foreign funding, prompting mass protests on the streets.

The intervention of the EU and the US, which both oppose the law, failed to move the government. The ruling Georgian Dream party said the law brings greater transparency and boosts Georgian sovereignty.

But on Sunday the whole country will come to a standstill to watch their heroes take on classy Spain, one of the favourites for the title, in Cologne.

"When you're the 'small' team, you know you have nothing to lose. The only thing we said before the competition was to have no regrets," Frenchman Sagnol added.

"You have no weight on your shoulders. The only responsibility we had was to make the Georgian nation proud of their players, and I think we've done that in the best way."

The Georgia fans will not care that the Spain game will finish well beyond midnight in Tbilisi. They will be ready for an all-night party anyway.