With four goals in the 39th, 51st, 75th and 83rd minutes after the 0-1 own goal by Robin Le Normand (18th), the Spaniards underlined that they can still be reckoned with at this European Championship. Even if host Germany awaits in the big quarter-final clash on Friday (6 p.m., live on ORF1) in Stuttgart.
A strong Spain side showed that they are capable of coming through difficult periods with a compact team performance after Luis de la Fuente’s side conceded a goal for the first time in the tournament.
Spain – Georgia: 4:1 Olmo (83rd)
Olmo put the finishing touches in the 83rd minute.
For European Championship debutants Georgia, the certainty remains that they did well, thrilled the fans and beat a “big team” in Portugal. But Spain’s role as favorites was unshakeable.
Clear allocation of roles
As group winners with nine points and a goal difference of 5:0, the three-time European champions have not shown any weaknesses so far. Nevertheless, Georgia was not underestimated. Since the sensational success in the last group match against Portugal, the European Championship debutants were even expected to be capable of pulling off a surprise against Spain.
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In direct comparisons with Spain, however, Georgia has had little to gain in the past. In seven duels, Spain has won six times, Georgia once eight years ago (1-0). In the most recent encounters in the European Championship qualifiers under the current coaches, Spain won clearly with 7-1 and 3-1.
Own goal turns game on its head
The opening phase clearly belonged to Spain, who had already scored five corners in the first quarter of an hour. The ball was almost exclusively with the favourites: 88:12 percent possession in Spain’s favour. But as always, there is only one statistic that counts: the number of goals.
Spain – Georgia: 0:1 Le Normand (18./own goal)
Surprisingly, Spain fell behind.
Completely against the run of play, Georgia took the lead in the 18th minute. Robin Le Normand’s cross from Otar Kakabadze bounced past Unai Simon and into the net to make it 1-0. The Georgians’ celebrations were understandably hard to contain. Spain was not shocked, but still needed a while to find the flow again.
Spain is coming back
However, Pedri’s shot went way over the crossbar (27′). The Georgians held on to their lead and the team of former French team player Willy Sagnol resorted to counterattacks. Spain’s attacking efforts remained timid and were caught in the tight Georgian defense.
Spain – Georgia: 1:1 Rodri (39.)
Rodri shot from the edge of the penalty area and hit the corner to equalize.
A well-placed shot from Marc Cucurella was deflected by the 1.97 meter tall Giorgi Mamardashvili for a corner. But in the 39th minute, the moment had come: Nico Williams passed from the left into the middle, where Rodri was lurking on the edge of the penalty area and calmly shot in to make it 1-1.
Ruiz, Williams and Olmo seal the deal
Spain went into the dressing room somewhat relieved. After the break, Luis de la Fuente’s team upped the ante and were rewarded with a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute. Young star Lamine Yamal, who had just completed his school year during the week, curled the ball exactly into the path of Fabian Ruiz, who nodded in to take the lead. But Georgia did not give up and continued to try to keep up with the favorites.
Spain – Georgia: 3:1 Williams (75.)
Williams didn’t hesitate for long when he scored to make it 3-1.
But he showed his class and the high individual quality of his players. Williams hammered the ball under the crossbar after a solo effort to make it 3-1 and thus decide the game (75th minute). Freed from the burden of having to control the game, Spain followed on and Dani Olmo did not miss the chance to make it 4-1 (83rd minute) after preparatory work by Mikel Oyarzabal. Everything is now set for the hit against Germany on Friday – live on ORF1.
Voices about the game
Rodri (Spain goalscorer): “We knew from the start that they might not have a big name, but they could cause us problems. We had chances at the beginning, but unfortunately they scored. But we came back, and we can be proud of that. They (Germany) are playing at home, but we have weapons. We have to do our best.”
Nico Williams (Spain goalscorer): “We are very happy to be in the quarter-finals. Step by step we have shown that we are a great team and if we continue at this level we can achieve great things. The goal we conceded was a mistake, but not intentional. In the end we were all happy. It will definitely be a difficult game (against Germany, ed.). They are hard to beat. But we have a wonderful team and if we play at this level we can win.”
Willy Sagnol (Georgia coach): “We’ve had good times and bad times, that’s the story of every national team. I think we can look back on the last year with peace and quiet, because the team’s development has been absolutely fantastic. I’m very proud of it, proud of what the players have achieved in the past few months. Now the end of the journey has come, but I’m sure the next one will be very exciting too.”
UEFA Euro 2024, Round of 16
Sunday:
Spain – Georgia 4:1 (1:1)
Cologne, 42,233 spectators, SR Letexier (FRA)
Torfolge:
0:1 (18.) Le Normand (own goal)
1:1 (39.) Rodri
2:1 (51.) Ruiz
3:1 (75.) N. Williams
4:1 (83.) Elm
Spain: Simon – Carvajal (81./Navas), Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella (66./Grimaldo) – Pedri (52./Olmo), Rodri, Ruiz (81./Merino) – Yamal, Morata (66./Oyarzabal) , N. Williams
Georgia: Mamardashvili – Kakabadze, Gvelesiani, Kashia, Dvali, Lochoshvili (63./Tsitaishvili) – Chakvetadze (63./Davitashvili), Kiteishvili (41./Altunashvili), Kochorashvili (79./Kvekveskiri) – Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze (79./Zivzivadze)
Yellow cards: Morata and Davitashvili
