Georgia stars' Euro payday! Billionaire former prime minister hands players for tournament minnows £8.4MILLION for reaching the knock-out stages - and will double it if they beat Spain

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Georgia secured their place in the knock-out stages of Euro 2024 on Wednesday
Now, the national side are set to secure a stunning £8.4million payday

Published: 08:33 EDT, 27 June 2024 | Updated: 09:44 EDT, 27 June 2024

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Georgia's stars are set to earn a stunning £8.4million payday after securing their place in the Euro 2024 knock-out rounds.

The tournament minnows booked their spot in the last-16 after a shock 2-0 victory over Portugal on Wednesday, thanks goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze.

After exceeding expectations in their first ever major tournament, the Georgian players are set to cash in a ridiculous amount thanks to one of their former prime ministers.

According to the Georgian Times, Bidzina Ivanishvili has pledged to award the national side with £8.4million (equivalent to 30million Georgian Lari).

They'll next face Spain in the last-16 of the tournament and there could be an even greater incentive for the 74th ranked team in the world.

Georgia booked their place in the last-16 of Euro 2024 after their 2-0 win against Portugal

Former Georgia prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (pictured) has pledged to reward the national side

Ivanishvili has claimed that, should they beat Luis de la Fuente's Spain in the next round, they will earn an additional £8.4million.

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A statement read: '30million Georgian Lari (GEL) will be awarded to the national team'.

'At the same time, on the initiative of Bidzina Ivanishvili, in case of winning the eighth-final meeting with Spain and advancing to the next stage, the national team of Georgia will receive an additional 30 million GEL as a reward.

'The honorary chairman of 'Georgian Dream' thanks every player of the football team, the coaching staff and the Georgian fans for this historic and dream victory.'

Georgia's shock victory over Portugal inadvertently helped England's progression in the tournament as it meant that the Three Lions now face Slovakia.

Heading into Wednesday's fixtures, England looked likely to face the Netherlands, but Georgia's shock 2-0 win against Portugal changed all that.

England now have an ideal potential run to the final, with France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and hosts Germany all on the opposite side of the draw.

Georges Mikautadze (pictured) scored the second goal against Portugal from the penalty spot

Georgia's victory over Portugal means England will now take on Slovakia in the last-16

Should Gareth Southgate's men get past Slovakia on Sunday evening, they will have a quarter-final tie with either defending champions Italy or Switzerland.

They could then play Ralf Rangnick's impressive Austria in the last four after they topped Group D ahead of France and the Netherlands.

A final could then await against one of Europe's big-hitters, as England aim to go one better than three years ago when they lost to Italy on penalties in the final at Wembley.

Georgia Spain