DPA
Hamburg/Gelsenkirchen
Giantkillers Georgia qualified for the Euro 2024 last 16 in their first major tournament, while Turkiye joined them in going through from Group F as the Czechs crashed out and Hungary finally accepted their fate.
Portugal, the 2016 champions, had already won the group and their much-changed side lost 2-0 to Georgia after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave them a shock lead after just 2 minutes.
Tournament top scorer Georges Mikautadze then netted his third at these Euros from the spot in the second half to spark ecstatic scenes among fans of a nation gripped by political protest at home.
The surprise win, Georgia’s first at the Euros, sets up a dream meeting with Spain and means they progressed as one of the four best third-placed sides alongside Slovenia, the Netherlands and Slovakia.
Hungary, who have been waiting in third place on three points since Group A concluded on Sunday, are now eliminated on goal difference.
Croatia, third in Group B, were previously ruled out of contention.
Turkiye finish second in Group F after a late 2-1 win over the now eliminated Czechs, who were hampered by Antonín Barák becoming the second man in Germany to be dismissed after two harsh first-half bookings.
Turkiye captain Hakan Çalhanoglu scored in style on 51 minutes, with Czech goalkeeper Jind?ich Stan?k appearing to dislocate his shoulder
moments before the goal.
The Czechs hit back on 66 minutes through their own skipper Tomás Soucek, but it was not enough for the win they needed as Cenk Tosun scored in stoppage time of a bad-tempered affair.
Ivan Hasek’s side, who started without injured striker Patrik Schick, faced the ignominy of seeing former smaller partners Slovakia qualify for the last 16 earlier, a day after Slovenia had gone through as former big brothers Serbia and Croatia were dumped out.
