Spain 4-1 Georgia: La Roja turned on the style after falling behind to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie with hosts Germany
Stylish Spain recovered from the shock of conceding an early own goal to eventually overrun a tireless and spirited Georgia 4-1 and surge into a mouthwatering Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.
After withstanding a near-constant early assault, with outstanding keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili making several good saves, Georgia stunned the crowd by taking the lead with their first attack after 18 minutes when Otar Kakabadze’s fizzing cross was diverted into his own net by the chest of Spain’s Robin Le Normand.
The Spaniards levelled the last-16 contest through Rodri from the edge of the box in the 39th minute and, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost scored a stunning second from near the halfway line for the tournament outsiders, Fabian Ruiz headed Spain ahead six minutes into the second half.
Spain continued to press and probe but the Georgians ran themselves ragged to keep them at bay until Nico Williams finally broke clear to slam in the third, with Dani Olmo neatly tucking home the fourth goal seven minutes from time to secure their fourth win of the tournament.
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 66 minutes
And here are those Spain changes. Alejandro Grimaldo swaps in at left-back for Marc Cucurella, while Mikel Oyarzabal relieves Alvaro Morata.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:26
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 64 minutes
A double switch for Georgia. Giorgi Tsitaishvili and Zuriko Davitashvili step in for Giorgi Chakvetadze and Luka Lochoshvili.
Spain are preparing changes of their own but will wait until after a corner. It’s a zippy delivery but the ball ricochets away off Robin Le Normand.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:24
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 62 minutes
Giorgi Kochorashvili is a lucky boy. The midfielder plays a terrible pass across the edge of his own box right to Lamine Yamal, who pounces and will be disappointed not to have hit the target. Yamal goes for placement rather than power but starts it too far outside Giorgi Mamardashvili’s right-hand post.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:22
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 60 minutes
With the lead in hand, Spain are just playing more passively, keeping three back at all times to neuter the potential threat of Georgia on the counter. Georges Mikautadze charges into one of three attempting to spark something, Robin Le Normand stepping out and in on the Georgia striker before he can build up a head of steam.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:20
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 57 minutes
From so close to 1-2, to 2-1. Georgia keep having the odd moment and a 50-yard Kvaratskhelia goal might have seen the entire stadium explode in noise and incredulity, but instead Spain are in control, in the lead and in a very good position to do what they do best: move the ball around, make their opponents chase and eventually create chances to kill the game off. Georgia are just starting to look a little ragged and overly-feisty for the first time - they need a bit of a reset here.
Karl Matchett in Cologne30 June 2024 21:16
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 56 minutes
Unai Simon gets himself in a bit of bother with Georgia pressing high for once, though the goalkeeper’s footwork is good enough to extricate himself.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:14
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 54 minutes
Spain make their first substitution. Luis de la Fuente removes Pedri and sends on Dani Olmo.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:12
GOAL! SPAIN 2-1 Georgia (Fabian Ruiz, 52 minutes)
But Spain are in front soon enough!
Fabian Ruiz heads home but give the credit to the teenage superstar. Lamine Yamal regathers himself soon after the free kick, finding space on the right. He cuts in and picks his spot, tossing up a tantalising tempter for an arriving Ruiz at the far stick. Giorgi Mamardashvili very nearly finds a way of keeping Ruiz’s short-range header out, but through the goalkeeper’s body it squeezes to nudge Spain in front.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:09
Spain 1-1 Georgia, 51 minutes
Saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili! Yamal hits the target, but Georgia’s goalkeeper is in the way.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:09
Spain 1-1 Georgia, 50 minutes
An opportunity for Spain. Lamine Yamal is fouled just outside the Georgia box. Spain erect a three-man shielding wall next to Georgia’s defensive blocking quintet. Yamal and Nico Williams stand over it...
Spain 4-1 Georgia: La Roja turned on the style after falling behind to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie with hosts Germany
Stylish Spain recovered from the shock of conceding an early own goal to eventually overrun a tireless and spirited Georgia 4-1 and surge into a mouthwatering Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.
After withstanding a near-constant early assault, with outstanding keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili making several good saves, Georgia stunned the crowd by taking the lead with their first attack after 18 minutes when Otar Kakabadze’s fizzing cross was diverted into his own net by the chest of Spain’s Robin Le Normand.
The Spaniards levelled the last-16 contest through Rodri from the edge of the box in the 39th minute and, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost scored a stunning second from near the halfway line for the tournament outsiders, Fabian Ruiz headed Spain ahead six minutes into the second half.
Spain continued to press and probe but the Georgians ran themselves ragged to keep them at bay until Nico Williams finally broke clear to slam in the third, with Dani Olmo neatly tucking home the fourth goal seven minutes from time to secure their fourth win of the tournament.
Spain 4-1 Georgia, 90 + 1 minutes
Into three additional minutes. Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo almost connect for a fifth, but the latter’s shot is blocked.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:50
Spain 4-1 Georgia, 89 minutes
Towards the close we wind with Spain beginning to size up Germany. Dani Olmo tests the gloves of Giorgi Mamardashvili one more time, trimming the grass with Spain’s 32nd shot of the match.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:48
Spain 4-1 Georgia, 85 minutes
Georgia have been excellent at Euro 2024 and their impact on the pitch and in the stands has been a more than welcome addition. This is just a step or two too far for them and there's no shame in that whatsoever - there's a good reason Spain are a heavy-hitting favourite and they've shown another side to their game here. It's worth remembering this is the first time they've conceded at the tournament, but they've bounced back from the early setback in perfect fashion. Bring on that quarter-final with the hosts.
Karl Matchett in Cologne30 June 2024 21:44
GOAL! SPAIN 4-1 Georgia (Dani Olmo, 83 minutes)
It’s four!
Lamine Yamal had just dragged a shot wide of Giorgi Mamardashvili’s goal, but Dani Olmo makes no mistake from the edge of the box. It’s his touch that creates it, deft and delicate to wrong-foot a defender and open up the room he needs to curl for the corner.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:41
Spain 3-1 Georgia, 81 minutes
Spain also ring the changes. The veteran Jesus Navas takes the place of Dani Carvajal, while Mikel Merino is on in midfield.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:40
Spain 3-1 Georgia, 78 minutes
That should seal it, you’d think, though Georgia will give it everything in these final 12 minutes. Georges Mikautadze’s tournament is in all likelihood over - he and Giorgi Gvelesiani are replaced by Budu Zivzivadze and Nika Kvekveskiri.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:38
GOAL! SPAIN 3-1 Georgia (Nico Williams, 76 minutes)
That one will count! A beauty!
This is some goal. Georgia throw bodies into an attack but come unstuck, Fabian Ruiz adroitly pirouetting out of a thicket and into a clearing. Ruiz picks out Nico Williams, on the move from the minute his midfielder got the ball, and springs him up the left.
There’s still plenty to do, but boy does Wiliams do it, out, in and out again to bamboozle a defender. The finish is equally pretty and precise into the roof of the net. Tasty!
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:33
OFFSIDE! Spain 2-1 Georgia, 74 minutes
Spain have the ball in the back of the net, but it won’t count! It’s gorgeous football up the right with Lamine Yamal buzzing about like a free electron, bouncing off Mikel Oyarzabal and in behind. His pass across is put past Giorgi Mamardashvili by one of the Georgian defenders with a couple of Spaniards waiting to tap in, but the flag is up with Yamal just, just offside.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:33
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 72 minutes
Zuriko Davitashvili rather clumsily clips Dani Olmo to the floor, accepting his yellow card readily having recognised that he’d erred.
Georgia need to find a way of getting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia back into the game. Spain have done an excellent job neutrallising him since half time, that effort from inside his own half aside.
Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:31
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 68 minutes
Ahh! A major opportunity for Giorgi Tsitaishvili, snatching at the chance and slicing wide having been left all alone getting forward from his wing-back position. A wild swing of his left boot when he had time to set his sights - you don’t feel like Georgia will have too many better chances.