Ketsbaia adds youth to Georgia ranks

Georgia coach Temuri Ketsbaia has called up three Under-21 internationals to his squad for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2012 matches against Malta and Latvia.

FC Baia Zugdidi's 18-year-old defender Nika Kvekveskiri is the most eye-catching selection while Murtaz Daushvili, 21, and Irakli Klimiashvili, 22, have played for the full national side before. Kvekveskiri could go straight into the starting lineup against Malta on 8 October due to Ucha Lobzhanidze's suspension.

"I knew that Ketsbaia liked my play, but I wasn't expecting to receive a call to the national team," said Kvekveskiri. "Obviously, I'm happy and I'll try to justify his trust."

Georgia squad
Goalkeepers: Nukri Revishvili (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Giorgi Loria (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Grigol Bediashvili (FC Olimpi Rustavi).

Defenders: Kakha Kaladze (Genoa CFC), Malkhaz Asatiani (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Aleksandr Amisulashvili (Kayserispor), Zurab Khizanishvili (Reading FC), Lasha Salukvadze (FC Rubin Kazan), Ucha Lobzhanidze (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Mate Gvinianidze (TSV 1860 München), Nika Kvekveskiri (FC Baia Zugdidi).

Midfielders: David Kvirkvelia (FC Rubin Kazan), Gogita Gogua (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Levan Kobiashvili (Hertha BSC Berlin), Giorgi Merebashvili (FK Vojvodina), Jano Ananidze (FC Spartak Moskva), Aleksandr Koshkadze (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Murtaz Daushvili (FC Zestafoni), Irakli Klimiashvili (FC WIT Georgia).

Forwards: David Siradze (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Aleksandr Iashvili (Karlsruher SC), Vladimir Dvalishvili (Maccabi Haifa FC), Nikoloz Gelashvili (FC Zestafoni).