Present in the mixed zone this Friday before the round of 16 of Euro 2024 between Spain and Georgia scheduled for Sunday, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Valencia goalkeeper, launched a dig at his Iberian counterparts, believing that Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is “better than all of Spain.
A well-aimed dig. Valencia and Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili teased the Spanish team this Friday in the mixed zone, before the Euro round of 16 between his country and Spain. Responding to the strengths of Georgia, the surprise nation of this knockout phase, he assures that Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is “better than all of Spain”.
“I’m not going to say we’re going to win. What we have to do is fight until the end and see what happens,” he assures in an improvised pre-match mixed zone, before adding about the Georgian number 7: “I think he is better than all of Spain.”
“Spain are favorites to win the Euro”
“For me, Spain are favourites to win the European Championship,” he continues. “Georgia, on the other hand, is a small country with a big heart and we have to fight. We have already had a good Euro. Now we have to rejoice, fight and compete.” Asked about Georges Mikautadze, he takes the same complimentary tone: “He is very good. I think he will also go to a very big team.”
The Georgian goalkeeper, praised for his very good saves during the competition, is wary of “all” the Spaniards: “Lamine Yamal has a lot of qualities: he scores goals, gives assists… They also, in my opinion, have the best goalkeeper of the La Liga season with Unai Simon We will have to fight and stay focused, at this level, as we have done so far.
An uncertain future
“Willy (Sagnol) told us that we had to continue at this level,” he adds. Coveted after this very successful Euro, the Valencia goalkeeper assures that he will communicate his future the same evening of the round of 16 against Spain. “Throughout the year I have been preparing to reach this level and I hope to continue doing so.”
