Co-favorite Spain is in the quarterfinals of the European Championship and will face hosts Germany on Friday (6 p.m.). The Iberians beat the bravely fighting Georgians 4-1 (1-1) on Sunday (June 30, 2024). After an own goal by Robin Le Normand (18th minute), Rodri (39th) and Fabian (52nd) turned the game around, and Nico Williams (75th) and Dani Olmo (83rd) finally made the final score.
“We are super happy to be in the quarter-finals,” said goalscorer Williams after the win. “We still have a lot to do.” The game in Stuttgart on Friday against the DFB selection will be “a difficult match,” as Williams continued, but: “If we play at this level, we can win.” Rodri, scorer of the 1-0 goal, added: “Germany is playing at home, so we have to try even harder. But they are certainly not happy to be playing against us either.”
The Spanish, who after rotating against Albania again used the eleven that had defeated Italy, were the dominant team throughout the game. At times the game was played out in front of the Georgian goal for several minutes at a time. The Iberians quickly had chances, but neither Pedri (5th), nor Dani Carvajal (10th), Williams (11th) nor Aymeric Laporte (16th) were able to get the ball into the net. After just 15 minutes, the Spanish had collected six corners.
Le Normand scores an own goal
It seemed only a matter of time before the first goal would be scored in Cologne. In the 18th minute the time came, but to everyone’s surprise the score was 1-0 for the underdog. Georgia took the lead with the first dangerous attack. Georges Mikautadze drove the ball in midfield, passed it to Otar Kakabadze, who crossed the ball sharply in front of the Spanish goal. There Le Normand unluckily pushed the ball into his own net. A goal against the run of play.
Spain then simply carried on as if nothing had happened. Fabian (22nd), Pedri (27th) and Williams (38th) had the next chances, while the deep-lying Georgians remained dangerous through counterattacks. In the 39th minute, the constant Spanish pressure was finally rewarded when Rodri scored with a powerful left-footed shot from 16 meters into the bottom right corner. Giorgi Mamardashvili in the Georgian goal, who had previously made several brilliant saves, was beaten for the first time.
Fabian overcomes Mamardashvili
In the second half, the favorites were looking to break through the Georgian defense once again. The game looked exactly the same as in the first half. Just like in the first half, the Georgians almost took the lead out of nowhere. Star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tried a shot from the halfway line and almost outwitted Unai Simon in the Spanish goal. But the ball went about a meter wide of the goal (48′).
While on the other side Mamardashvili was able to save a free kick from Lamine Yamal in the 50th minute, he was beaten just a minute later. The keeper, who was once again really strong, had no chance when Fabian headed the ball from a few meters away. Spain now deservedly took the lead and then let the ball and the opponent run without taking the same risks as before the opening goal. Controlled Spanish offense was now the motto.
Dani Olmo scores the final goal
The brave Georgians were now showing signs of the strain of the group phase, and despite being behind, the underdogs barely managed to get the ball. And when Georgia rarely had possession, mistakes piled up, and Yamal almost punished one (62′). The underdog appeared in front of the Spanish goal once, but substitute Giorgi Tsitaishvili missed a good counterattack opportunity (68′).
In the 73rd minute, there was almost another own goal. Giorgi Gvelesiani had cleared a cross from Lamine Yamal into his own goal, but the Spanish youngster was just offside. Just two minutes later, the game was finally decided. Williams perfectly completed a Spanish counterattack to make it 3-1. Georgia was beaten and had run out of energy, and Olmo finally made it 4-1 in the 83rd minute.
Georgia proud of its achievements
Even though Georgia’s journey is over, the underdog was proud of reaching the round of 16 despite being eliminated. “I am very proud of what we have achieved. We have put Georgian football on the European map,” said captain Guram Kashia after the match. “We can go home with our heads held high.” Coach Willy Sagnol stressed: “At some point we will realise what we have achieved. And then we will be even prouder.”
2024-06-30 20:51:00
#Victory #Georgia #Spain #meets #Germany
