“It’s incredible, I can’t describe it in words. You should see what happens in the dressing-room,” Levan Kobiashvili, President of the country’s Football Federation, told Georgia’s Interpress.
In Tbilisi, amid blaring horns, people could be heard chanting “Sakartvelo!”, the local word for the country’s name.
“The boys really gave us a miracle. Everyone deserves more than thanks. It’s a wonder,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters.
“They fought until the end and apart from the fight, it was proven once again that Georgians have football talent.”
In Liberty Square, videos on social media showed hundreds of cars gathered, creating a traffic jam around the area, with fans climbing on the St George Statue to celebrate the moment.
“This signifies that wherever there is faith, purpose, selfless dedication, and the spirit of victory, there lies victory!,” President Salome Zourabichvili wrote on Facebook after personally congratulating the players.
The mood was very different for Ukraine’s national soccer team and its fans.
Hungry for success at Euro 2024 after more than two years of grinding war against Russia, they lamented their elimination on Wednesday, but expressed pride nonetheless at their effort.
Ukraine drew 0-0 against Belgium and finished the first round of with four points — not good enough to advance in a group that featured a blanket finish among the four teams.
“Being in the tournament was very important for our country. We showed the character of our nation, after nearly 900 days of the war,” Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov told reporters. “It’s very important to show people in Europe, people in Ukraine, that we are still fighting.”
Like many, he blamed the setback on allowing three goals in the team’s opening defeat to Romania, a gap which made an impact when it came time to calculate goal difference.
“It was not only the three points, but after 1-0, 2-0, we didn’t wake up….But in life you make mistakes,” he said.
“I saw the players. Unfortunately, they have no emotion anymore. We have a very young national team. I can see they are optimistic about the future.”