Preview: Georgia vs. Cyprus - prediction, team news, lineups

The bottom two nations in Group A of Euro 2024 qualifying meet at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on Sunday afternoon as Georgia play host to Cyprus.

Cyprus will be seeking revenge against the Crusaders after they lost 2-1 in the reverse fixture held in Larnaca four months ago.

Match preview

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After losing three successive Euro 2024 qualifiers between June and September, Georgia created history on Thursday evening when they recorded their biggest-ever victory with a thumping 8-0 friendly win over Thailand.

Ajax forward Georges Mikautadze became Georgia's first-ever player to score four goals in a single game and the first to net three since the nation's all-time leading scorer Shota Arveladze back in 1997, while Zuriko Davitashvili (2) Luka Lochoshvili and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were also on target in a memorable win for the Crusaders.

Willy Sagnol's side are understandably brimming with confidence and they must build on Thursday's triumph with another victory on Sunday if they wish to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for their first-ever European Championships alive.

Georgia, who currently sit fourth in Group A with just four points from their first five matches, must also hope that second-placed Spain draw with third-placed Norway in Oslo to remain in contention for a top-two spot.

The Crusaders, ranked 79th in the world by FIFA, have only won two of their last eight Euro qualifiers on home soil, but they have won their last two meetings with Cyprus, who enter Sunday's contest in dismal form.

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Cyprus are one of just five European nations who are yet to pick up a single point in Euro 2024 qualifying and they suffered their sixth straight defeat on Thursday when they were put to the sword 4-0 by Norway on home soil.

Only the world's lowest-ranked nation San Marino (21) have conceded as many goals in Euro qualifying than Cyprus, who have shipped at least three goals in five of their six Group A fixtures – the only exception being a 2-1 loss to Sunday's opponents Georgia in June.

Temur Ketsbaia's side cannot finish in the top two of Group A and are merely playing for pride when they travel to Tbilisi, before finishing their qualification campaign with a home fixture against Spain.

Cyprus, ranked 120th in the world by FIFA, have failed to win each of their last 16 competitive away games in all competitions since a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan in October 2019, while their last win over Georgia was a 2-1 success in Euro qualifying 14 years ago.

Team News

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Georgia boss Sagnol is set to make a few changes to the side that thrashed Thailand in midweek, with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili expected to replace Giorgi Loria and 107-cap captain Guram Kashia coming in for centre-back Iva Gelashvili, who was handed his first senior cap last time out.

Napoli star Kvaratskhelia, who has scored 11 goals in 25 international appearances, is also in line for a recall and could partner Mikautadze in attack, while Otar Kiteishvili and Nika Kvekveskiri could return in midfield to join Giorgi Chakvetadze in the first XI.

As for Cyprus, Peterborough United's Hector Kyprianou earned his first international cap in defence against Norway and the 22-year-old could retain his place in the back three alongside Alex Gogic and Andreas Karo.

Charalambos Kyriakou, Ioannis Kousoulos and Charalampos Charalampous are the most likely trio to start in a three-man midfield, while forwards Demetris Christofi and Marios Elia will be hoping to force their way into the first XI ahead of Grigoris Kastanos and Andronikos Kakoullis.

Georgia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Kvirkvelia, Kashia, Mamuchashvili; Gocholeishvili, Kiteishvili, Kvekveskiri, Chakvetadze, Azarovi; Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze

Cyprus possible starting lineup:
Mall; Karo, Gogic, Kyprianou; Andreou, Kyriakou, Kousoulos, Charalampous, Correia; Kastanos, Christofi

We say: Georgia 3-0 Cyprus

After hitting Thailand for eight in midweek, Georgia will be licking their lips as they prepare for Sunday's clash against a struggling Cyprus outfit who are conceding goals for fun at present.

The visitors must improve at the back if they are to claim a positive result in Tbilisi, but we believe that the hosts will ultimately have too much quality in the final third.

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