Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Spain4 - 1Georgia

sportsmole.co.uk, 30 June 2024, 20:52
Spain booked their spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Georgia in Sunday night's entertaining contest in Cologne.

Georgia took a shock lead in the 18th minute of the match, with Robin Le Normand turning a low cross from Otar Kakabadze into the back of his own net from close range, and Willy Sagnol's side were dreaming of another famous win after their success over Portugal last time out.

However, Spain levelled the scores shortly before the break courtesy of a brilliant strike from Rodri, before Fabian Ruiz headed an excellent Lamine Yamal cross into the back of the net to make it 2-1 to La Roja in the 51st minute.

A third then arrived for Luis de la Fuente's side in the 75th minute through Nico Williams, before Dani Olmo scored a late fourth, and Spain will tackle tournament hosts Germany in the last eight of the competition on Friday evening, with the winner of that mouthwatering fixture progressing to the final four.

Spain were not placed among the pre-tournament favourites, but the three-time European champions have now won all four of their fixtures at Euro 2024 and will be confident heading into their clash with the hosts.

Yamal, Williams star for Spain once again

In Yamal and Williams, Spain have two of the outstanding young wingers in European football, and the pair were once again in sensational form on Sunday night.

Yamal set up Ruiz for Spain's second of the match, before Williams netted his side's third late on, and Germany will not relish coming up against the in-form duo in the quarter-finals of the competition.

In truth, it was a dominant performance from De la Fuente's side, who certainly look capable of triumphing at this summer's tournament.

Spain were impressive early on, and the first half-chance came for Pedri in the fifth minute, but the Barcelona midfielder's effort was kept out by Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Georgia made the breakthrough

Five minutes later, Mamardashvili was again called into action to keep out a header from Dani Carvajal, and some of the football from De la Fuente's side in the early exchanges was a joy to watch.

However, Georgia, firmly against the run of play, took the lead in the 18th minute, as central defender Le Normand, under pressure from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, turned a cross from Kakabadze into the back of his own net to spark jubilant scenes from the Georgia supporters.

Pedri and Laporte both fired efforts over the crossbar before Mamardashvili denied Marc Cucurella, as Spain looked to respond, but the counter-attack remained on for Georgia, with Kvaratskhelia's pace a real problem for La Roja.

The leveller for Spain finally came in the 39th minute, as the brilliant Rodri picked out the bottom corner with a wonderful strike from just outside the penalty box, and in truth, it was no more than La Roja deserved.

The Spain fightback was so impressive

Kvaratskhelia almost scored a spectacular second for Georgia early in the second period, but his long-range effort, which had Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon scrambling, dropped just wide of the post.

Mamardashvili then kept out a curling free kick from Yamal, but Spain managed to score a second in the 51st minute, with Ruiz heading a brilliant cross from Barcelona's 16-year-old superstar into the back of the net from close range.

Georgiy Tsitaishvili had a chance to level the scores for Georgia in the 68th minute, but his effort from a dangerous position was wide of the post, before Giorgi Gvelesiani turned a Yamal cross into the back of his own net, only for the offside flag to come to Georgia's rescue.

Spain secured their spot in the last eight in the 75th minute, though, with Williams brilliantly picking out the back of the net with a thumping effort from inside the box, before Olmo's clever finish made it 4-1 in the 83rd minute, with the goal capping off an excellent La Roja performance.

What next for Spain and Georgia?

Spain will march onto the quarter-finals, with Germany their opponents on Friday night.

As for Georgia, they can take plenty from their display this summer, and the national side will be back in competitive action against Czech Republic in the UEFA Nations League on September 7.

Top News

6 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 6 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami (Sunday, 12.30am) A first-place showdown in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer will see FC Cincinnati host Inter Miami on Saturday at TQL Stadium. 6 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Flamengo vs. Cuiaba (Sunday, 12.00am) High-flying Flamengo will be looking to open up a six-point lead at the top of the Brasileiro Serie A table when they play host to Cuiaba on Saturday. 6 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England vs. Switzerland (Saturday, 5.00pm) Pitting their wits against the plucky team to deny them a repeat of the 2021 final, an under-performing England crop fight for the right to become Euro 2024 semi-finalists against Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday evening. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of defensive midfielder Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cruzeiro will be seeking to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they welcome Corinthians to the Mineirao Stadium on Sunday evening. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City have reportedly entered the race to sign 16-year-old Tottenham Hotspur prodigy Mikey Moore. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro will do battle at the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on Monday in gameweek 15 of the 2024 Brasileiro season. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's attempts to offload one of their unwanted defenders is reportedly being held up by transfer talks over Manchester United's Mason Greenwood. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Perhaps signing off the Cristiano Ronaldo era, Portugal have been eliminated by France in the last eight of Euro 2024, following a penalty shootout defeat in Hamburg. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain will be without the services of Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand and Pedri for next week's Euro 2024 semi-final with France. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Misfiring France scrambled through to the Euro 2024 semi-finals by downing Portugal in a tense penalty shootout, as Les Bleus earned a final-four showdown with Spain. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Internacional will be looking to return to winning ways in Brasileiro when they face off against Vasco da Gama at Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda on Sunday night. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Atalanta BC defender Caleb Okoli, with a deal between the two clubs close. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United-linked Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is reportedly growing annoyed with the lack of progress over a possible move to Old Trafford. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After a couple of away defeats, Juventude return to Estadio Alfredo Jaconi this week to take on Gremio in gameweek 15 of Brasileiro on Sunday night. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A tense quarter-final clash between Portugal and France is ultimately decided by way of a dramatic penalty shootout, with Les Bleus going through to a Euro 2024 semi-final against Spain. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Eighth-placed KFUM Oslo are set to host fifth-placed Viking FK at the KFUM Arena in Norway's Eliteserien on Sunday, and the outcome could affect the relegation battle as well as the race for European football. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning champions Bodo/Glimt are set to host their closest challengers SK Brann at Aspmyra Stadion in Norway's Eliteserien on Sunday, and victory for either side could have serious ramifications in the title race. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning champions Palmeiras are set to host Bahia at Allianz Parque in Brazil's Brasileiro on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash that could significantly impact the title race. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany became the first Euros host nation to suffer defeat in the quarter-finals of the men's tournament as they went down 2-1 to Spain in an exhilarating affair at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain have booked their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 by beating Germany 2-1 in extra time, forcing the hosts out of the competition. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain have booked their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 by beating Germany 2-1 in extra time, forcing the hosts out of the competition. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are reportedly expected to consider offering Anthony Gordon a new contract amid interest from Liverpool. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany have exited Euro 2024 owing to a heartbreaking 2-1 extra-time defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has insisted Mohamed Salah will not be sold this summer despite concerns that he could leave on a free transfer next year. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of Friday's mouthwatering Euro 2024 quarter-final between Portugal and France in Hamburg. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori ahead of a potential summer transfer. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey captain Hakan Calhanoglu has insisted that 'there is nothing his side cannot achieve', with the national team preparing for Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final with Netherlands. 5 July 2024 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA have confirmed that both Manchester City and Manchester United will be able to play in European competition next season.