With optimism of reaching a first-ever major tournament finals rising, Georgia welcome Norway to the Batumi Stadium for their opening Euro 2024 qualifying Group A battle on Tuesday.

The hosts thumped Mongolia 6-1 in a warm-up friendly on Saturday, while their Nordic counterparts fell to a 3-0 loss to Spain in their maiden Group A contest.

Match preview

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With the indomitable Khvicha Kvaratskhelia kept in reserve, a wealth of Georgia's lesser-known stars stole the spotlight during the visit of Mongolia to Batumi, as Willy Sagnol's side overwhelmed the world's 183rd-ranked nation in a five-goal win.

Mongolia surprisingly held Georgia in the first half, but the floodgates opened thereafter, as Sagnol's side struck no fewer than five goals in the second 45 minutes, two of which came for Slovan Bratislava star Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Starting the new year as they finished 2022, Georgia are yet to make the finals of a World Cup or European Championships as an independent nation, but Sagnol has overseen a magnificent period of progress over the past 12 months - culminating in promotion to League B in the Nations League.

Taking 16 points from 18 on offer against North Macedonia, Gibraltar and Bulgaria, the Crusaders gleaned revenge over the former nation following their Euro 2020 qualifying heartache, having lost 1-0 to the North Macedonians in the playoff final courtesy of Goran Pandev's strike.

Prior to that painful loss in Tbilisi, Georgia had gone unbeaten in four Euro qualifying games on home soil - keeping clean sheets in all four contests - but Norway could have counted themselves unfortunate not to have breached the Spanish rearguard last time out.

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With Erling Braut Haaland watching on from the medical bay after pulling out with a groin problem, Norway were left to rue the striker's absence against France, who conceded several chances to Stale Solbakken's side but left with their clean sheet intact.

Up until the 84th minute, only a neat Dani Olmo flick could separate the two sides, but the introduction of 32-year-old debutant Joselu breathed new life into La Roja, as the Espanyol forward breached Norway's defence twice within the space of 106 seconds to end any fleeting hopes of a fightback.

The Lions could and probably should have been awarded a penalty when Rodri cleaned out Martin Odegaard in the first half - the Arsenal man held his tongue at the final whistle - but Solbakken's men are already at a disadvantage in their bid for just a second Euros Finals qualification.

Since being eliminated in the group stage in 2000, Norway have tried and failed five times to reach the continent's premier competition, and it is now just one win in their last five games in all competitions for Solbakken's leaky crop, who have gone six games without a shutout.

Norway can boast three wins from their previous three meetings with Georgia in all tournaments, but the two sides have not locked horns since May 1999, where current Lions boss Solbakken captained his side to a 1-0 Euro 2000 qualifying success.

Team News

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Prior to teaching Mongolia a footballing lesson, Georgia boss Sagnol lost midfielder Anzor Mekvabishvili and defender Davit Khocholava to injury, but the hosts are otherwise in tip-top condition.

Napoli trailblazer Kvaratskhelia was afforded a complete rest on Saturday, but the 22-year-old is sure to take his rightful place in the XI here - the same can also be said for Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Budu Zivzivadze and Giorgi Beridze both netted off the bench against the Mongolians, and the former - who plies his trade with German second-tier side Karlsruher - could spearhead the offensive in a 3-4-3.

Meanwhile, Haaland was not the only Norway casualty before their loss to Spain, as Brentford centre-back Kristoffer Ajer could not take part due to a calf injury, but Solbakken otherwise has all of his troops available.

Odegaard managed to escape serious injury following Rodri's challenge and will captain the side once more, while the goalscoring burden will fall on the shoulders of Real Sociedad's Alexander Sorloth.

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Ryerson should feel hopeful about his chances of displacing Marcus Holmgren Pedersen at right-back, but Solbakken should otherwise keep things largely as they are.

Georgia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Kashia, Dvali, Kobakhidze; Lobzhanidze, Kvekveskiri, Aburjania, Gocholeishvili; Kvaratskhelia, Zivzivadze, Chakvetadze

Norway possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Ryerson, Ostigard, Strandberg, Meling; Odegaard, Berg, Aursnes; Berge, Sorloth, Elyounoussi

We say: Georgia 1-1 Norway

While the vast majority of Georgia's victories in 2022 came against teams that they would have expected to beat, Sagnol's side should feel confident of getting their Euro 2024 qualifying bid off to a respectable start.

Norway held their own for long periods of their clash with Spain and were unlucky not to have breached the Roja backline, so we can picture a tightly-fought score draw on the Batumi turf.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Ben Knapton

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