Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams, and Dani Olmo all scored as Spain got here from behind to beat shock packages Georgia 4-1 at Euro 2024 on Sunday and arrange a blockbuster quarter-final towards hosts Germany.
Robin Le Normand’s personal purpose gave Georgia a shock lead within the 18th minute of this last-16 tie to ship their noisy supporters wild in Cologne.
It was the primary purpose Spain had conceded on the competitors however they got here again to equalise six minutes earlier than the interval courtesy of Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri.
Ruiz then headed residence within the 51st minute and Williams ran via for the third earlier than substitute Olmo made certain of the win as La Roja keep on observe to grow to be European champions for the fourth time.
Spain now tackle Germany within the final eight in Stuttgart on Friday in a repeat of the Euro 2008 last, which they gained 1-0 to start their golden period of dominance in worldwide soccer.
Luis de la Fuente’s present staff need to deliver again the glory days they usually had been anticipated to brush Georgia apart right here.
They’d have in the end gained by a far larger margin had they transformed extra of their possibilities, with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal squandering a number of alternatives in his try and grow to be the youngest ever goal-scorer on the Euros.
Georgia are ranked 74th on the earth, 66 locations beneath Spain. Willy Sagnol’s staff misplaced twice to Spain in qualifying, happening 7-1 at residence and 3-1 away.
But they nonetheless certified for a primary main match after which made it to the knockout levels with a surprising 2-0 win over Portugal.
Sagnol mentioned on the eve of this match that his unfancied staff had “already gained the European Championship” due to their exceptional run, they usually now go residence with their heads held excessive regardless of finally crumbling right here.
They’ve a full of life attacking partnership between Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze that may be a hazard for any opponent, and Giorgi Mamardashvili has been among the best goalkeepers on the match.
– Audacious –
Mamardashvili had already saved from Pedri and saved out Dani Carvajal’s glancing header earlier than Georgia went forward.
The transfer began with a advantageous piece of play by Kvaratskhelia, who had little room to manoeuvre on the left wing however picked out a go for Mikautadze, who then launched Otar Kakabadze on the precise wing.
Kakabadze’s cross into the field was a horrible one for Le Normand, who had Kvaratskhelia arriving behind him and couldn’t cease the ball from rebounding off him and into the online for the eighth personal purpose of Euro 2024.
Spain had been now susceptible to the counterattack, which is Georgia’s energy, however the males in purple continued to dominate the sport and saved testing Mamardashvili.
The Valencia shot-stopper made a number of extra interventions in an more and more wild encounter earlier than the equaliser lastly got here, Rodri controlling a Williams go on the fringe of the field and stroking the ball into the nook.
It felt as if that is perhaps that for Georgia, however they remained audacious on the break, with Kvaratskhelia nearly scoring from inside his personal half at the start of the second interval, his shot going simply large with goalkeeper Unai Simon out of place.
Spain went forward shortly after, as Yamal crossed from the precise for Ruiz to go in his second purpose of the match on the again put up.
Yamal didn’t simply miss possibilities of his personal, as he additionally pressured an personal purpose which was disallowed for offside earlier than Georgia fell aside defensively underneath more and more heavy rain.
Ruiz launched Williams, who ran from inside his personal half, skipped previous Giorgi Gvelesiani into the field, and fired into the roof of the online to make it 3-1 on 75 minutes.
A pleasant management and end from the sting of the field by Olmo accomplished the scoring with seven minutes left.
AFP