Newcastle United chiefs may be kicking themselves today if they were watching Georgia v Czechia at Euro 2024.
Czechia absolutely pelted Georgia’s goal in the 1-1 draw in the 2pm kick-off at Euro 2024.
In fact, according to Opta, the Czechs managed 12 shots on target throughout the game which is the most ever registered at a European Championships, and yet they only had one goal to show for it.
Why? Because of Giorgi Mamardashvili had the game of his life saving eight of those attempts with Goal giving him their MVP calling him ‘irresistible’ and ‘brilliant’.
12 – Czechia recorded 12 shots on target against Georgia; the most by a team who failed to win the match at the UEFA European Championship on record (since 1980). Mamardashvili. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/sDTZIIPwie
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 22, 2024
Have Newcastle made a mistake walking away from Mamardashvili?
Newcastle had been heavily linked with a move for Mamardashvili going into the summer transfer window and even made their move only to walk away after Valencia stuck by their £35million valuation.
The Magpies didn’t think the 23-year-old was worth that much and weren’t willing to pay so moved on to other targets with Burnely’s James Trafford being the current favourite to join Eddie Howe’s side this summer.
We wonder now though, having seen what the young Georgian can do, whether Newcastle may be starting to rethink their stance.
It was a former Newcastle target who managed to get one past Marma
Granted it is just one game, but if the Magpies were already keen then he must have impressed them before, so doing this at international level could maybe bring them back to the table.
It’s highly likely now though, that other clubs may have awoken to Mamardashvili and Newcastle could find themselves barged out of the way even if they did return with another bid.
Incidentally, it was another former Newcastle target who managed to breach Mamardashvili’s goal in Patrik Schick, although those links have long since died down.
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