Georgia vs Türkiye

Türkiye’s Arda Güler (19y 114d) is the youngest player in the history of the UEFA European Championship to score on their first appearance, and just the third teenager to do so, after Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against Greece in 2004 and Ferenc Bene for Hungary against Spain in 1964.

Türkiye have won their opening game of a UEFA European Championship finals for the first time, having lost each of their previous five such games.

Each of the last three sides to compete in their first game at the UEFA European Championship finals - as an independent nation - have lost (North Macedonia in 2021, Serbia and Georgia in 2024) since Finland’s 1-0 win over Denmark in 2021.

Türkiye have won three of their five meetings with Georgia in all competitions (D1 L1), with this their first encounter since a 3-1 friendly win in May 2012. Georgia’s only previous victory came in a friendly in February 2007 (1-0).

This is Georgia’s first ever game in a major international tournament. Since 2012, three of the eight nations to debut at the European Championship have won their first ever match (D1 L4), with Ukraine beating Sweden in 2012, Wales beating Slovakia in 2016 and Finland beating Denmark in 2020.

Türkiye are taking part in their sixth UEFA European Championship, but this is the first time they have qualified for the tournament in three consecutive editions. Their best result so far is a semi-final in 2008.

Türkiye have lost six of their last seven matches at the UEFA EURO (W1). They have also kept only one clean sheet in their last 12 matches at the tournament, in a 2-0 group stage win against Czech Republic at EURO 2016.

11 of Türkiye’s 14 goals at the UEFA EURO have come after half-time. Indeed, 10 of those have come in the second half of matches, with Semih Sentürk scoring their other such goal in the second half of extra-time against Croatia in 2008 – the latest goal ever scored at the EURO (121:01).