Shai Mamou, Media365, published on Sunday June 30, 2024 at 11:12 p.m.
Spain corrected Georgia (4-1), surprise team of these round of 16. La Roja goes into the quarter and offers itself a shock against Germany for a place in the last four of Euro 2024.
Spain were scared for a half, but will be there in the quarter-finals. La Roja clearly dominated (4-1) Georgia for their opening match in the final draw, with a ticket validated for a meeting as attractive as it is uncertain against Germany, the host country, in the next round. Despite an impressive domination from the start, Luis De La Fuente’s players nevertheless chased the score in the first half.
Georgia surprises La Roja
Thwarted by Valencia’s excellent goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, the teammates of Parisian Fabian Ruiz thus conceded the first goal of the game, completely against the run of play. On their first incursion into the Iberian camp, Willy Sagnol’s men hit the mark with the help of the unfortunate Robin Le Normand. Deflected by Otar Kakabadze’s good cross, the Real Sociedad defender deflected the ball into his own goal (0-1, 18th). Less sure of themselves and opposed to valiant and confident Georgians, the Spaniards finally found the back of the net a few minutes before the break. The inevitable Rodriwith a sharp, placed left-footed shot into Mamardashvili’s side netting, no doubt a little hampered by Alvaro Morata, in an offside position (1-1, 39th).
Yamal and Williams essential
Determined not to get into trouble again, Spain struck quickly in the second act. Ruiz, on an offering from Lamine Yamal, headed the ball to give his country the advantage (2-1, 51st). It was then necessary to wait until the last quarter of an hour to see the indisputable domination of the Roja lead to new achievements. Nico Williamsstirring throughout the match, executed a perfect shot under the bar on the counterattack (3-1, 75th), before Dani Olmowho came on after Pedri had a physical problem, did not manage a high-level control-shot sequence to make the score worse (4-1, 83rd). Georgia came out of the first Euro in its history with its head held high, with an attractive face and promises for the future. Spain, for its part, continued its journey with ambition and a new extremely solid copy which made it one of the big favourites to succeed Italy. To do this, it will have to do battle with Germany next Friday.
