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June 30 – On a night of great drama and goal-mouth action, Spain dispatched a superb Georgia 4-1 with three-second half goals from Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo to book a last-eight encounter with hosts Germany.
Tournament darlings Georgia bowed out of Euro 2024 in grand style, once again playing their electric counter-attacking football. They were enchanting in the group stages and for 21 minutes they dreamt of causing one of the all-time upsets in tournament history after taking the lead before Spain’s class proved too much.
Spain were always going to be on the ball and so the Georgians’ needed to pick their moments and use them wisely. In the group stages, they showed that they didn’t need much and against Spain, they delivered with flamboyance in the 18th minute, a trademark counter resulting in Robin Le Normand deflecting the ball into his own net.
It was a superlative start from Georgia. They had just 15% of possession, yet Georgia with their first attack of the match were ahead, the first time that Spain had conceded in the tournament.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tormented Spain’s defence
This was after all the most skewed tie of the last 16, but although Goliath was besting David, the fan favourites were outwitting the tournament favourites. The debutants played with panache. They were the anti-thesis of lethargic sides like England and Belgium.
The Georgians were plucky and enterprising, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia starring in the final third. Every time Kvaratskhelia steamed forward, he caused havoc, the Spanish defence dropping off and almost opening up. With the ball at his feet, he galloped with great menace.
He radiated the self-confidence and exuberance of great players, playing with a directness that alarmed his opponents. Kvaratskhelia and his team thrived when breaking, but Georgia didn’t capitalise. In the 32nd minute, Georges Mikautadze claimed a penalty.
Georgia celebrate after Robin Le Normand’s own…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/06/30/georgias-cameo-spain-turn-heat/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-06-30 20:31:14
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