Anna 
Armenia’s men’s soccer team endured a difficult and disappointing stretch, suffering a 9-1 aggregate loss to Georgia in the UEFA Nations League B/C play-off. The Armenian national team, long considered the pride of the country’s sports scene, has struggled through a prolonged transitional period that seems to have no end in sight.
Two Heavy Losses to Georgia
Armenia was beaten 3-0 at home in Yerevan on March 20, followed by a devastating 6-1 loss in Tbilisi just three days later. These results leave Armenia in League C, with Georgia advancing. Georges Mikautadze starred for Georgia, scoring four goals over the two legs. In contrast, Armenia’s defensive frailties were exposed, leading to easy goals for Georgia.
Edgar Sevikyan’s stunning bicycle kick in the second leg was one of the few bright spots for Armenia, but it was overshadowed by the team’s overall poor performance.
Manager’s Challenging Start
John van ‘t Schip, who took over as Armenia’s head coach on February 17, faced a turbulent debut. Appointed just weeks before the critical play-off, the Dutch manager could not steer the team to victory, leaving Armenia relegated to League C. In addition to the losses, van ‘t Schip’s handling of player issues added to the turmoil, with forward Grant-Leon Ranos returning to his club after a disagreement about playing time.
Ranos expressed his frustration in a social media post, explaining that he was eager to play but was told by van ‘t Schip that he would not feature in the upcoming matches.
Missing Key Players
Armenia was also without key offensive players Eduard Spertsyan and Lucas Zelarayán, both of whom are integral to the team’s attacking strength. However, even with their presence, Armenia’s weak defense made it difficult to expect a different result.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, Armenia must regroup. They are scheduled for two international friendlies this summer, playing Kosovo on June 6 and Montenegro on June 9. These matches will provide an opportunity for players to get back into form ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which begin in September against Portugal.
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