Cristiano Ronaldo's pre-game comments backfire but classy gesture speaks volumes

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired Georgia to the biggest shock in Euros history with victory over Portugal - after a pre-match pep talk from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The wonderfully-talented Napoli star and tournament top scorer Georges Mikautadze scored the goals as Willy Sagnol’s team of underdogs picked off the Selccao's collections of individuals.

Kvaratskhelia scored inside the first two minutes, running clean through and firing across Diogo Costa to give Georgia the lead. And Mikautadze kept up his goal-a-game record with a second half penalty to make it 2-0 and secure an unlikely last 16 place - and a meeting with Spain.

Kvaratskhelia took the player of the match award for his display, but he insisted: "There was no individual best player today, it was the team, and we proved to everybody that we can really play.

“We always go out to win and we're always focused on the next match. We're very happy today but tomorrow we're going to start thinking about the next match, but we're so grateful for all the support we've had.

“This is the best day in the lives of Georgian football fans. We've made history, no one would believe we'd make it happen.

“No one would believe we could beat Portugal but that's why we're a strong team; if there's even a 1 percent chance, we've shown we can make it happen."

And he revealed all about his pre-game chat with Ronaldo.

Kvaratskhelia doesn’t hide the fact that Ronaldo was his boyhood hero, and they shared a few pre-match words as they stood on the halfway line waiting for kickoff. They proved the inspiration for the man known in Naples as 'Kvaradona'.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia celebrates

"Before the match he wished me success," revealed the Georgia star. "I would never imagine he would come and talk to me. He's a great player and a great person. That's why he's a great personality in and out of football.

“I have so much respect for him, he's one of the best players in the world. When he comes to talk to you before the match, that's amazing.

“That helped us believe we could do something today."

And while Ronaldo was undoubtedly frustrated with his night - substituted after 65 minutes, having been earlier booked for his protestations after being denied a penalty - he followed through with his promise to give Kvaratskhelia his shirt in the dressing room in the bowels of the Veltins Arena.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is seen on the bench after being substituted

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez said of his side: “We weren't clear-headed enough with the last pass and in front of goal, and their goalkeeper had an amazing performance. We tried to score but couldn't, and that made Georgia believe all the more. They deserved to win.

"We tried to score and at times we were unlucky. I don't think it was tactics or players today, I think it was about the power and the intensity that Georgia showed. We need to play at a high pace, high intensity.

"Georgia were playing to be part of history and we didn't match them.”

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