Spain v Georgia: La Roja battle back to set up Euro 2024 quarter-final against Germany
Spain set up a Euro 2024 quarter-final against hosts Germany but only after overcoming an early scare to beat Georgia 4-1.
The tournament debutants took a shock lead when Robin Le Normand turned the ball into his own net in the 18th minute but Rodri levelled six minutes before the break and Fabian Ruiz put Spain in front early in the second half, with Nico Williams and substitute Dani Olmo adding late goals.
Georgia went out, but only after Willy Sagnol’s side had offered up another thrilling display of counter-attacking football to take the game to their lofty opponents.
Spain, who thrashed Georgia 7-1 in Tbilisi in qualifying, immediately piled on pressure from the very start of the match, with Giorgi Mamardashvili saving from Pedri before doing well to keep out a deflected corner at his near post.
Williams’ strike was then deflected before Aymeric Laporte headed wide from a corner.
A goal for manager Luis de la Fuente's side seemed inevitable but instead it was Georgia who took a shock lead with their first attack of the game.
Georges Mikautadze swept the ball out wide from the centre circle, Otar Kakabadze raced down the right and sent in a cross which Le Normand inadvertently sent into his own net under pressure from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – the first goal Spain have conceded in the tournament.
Ruiz went close at the other end but Georgia, encouraged by their success, kept pouring forward on the counter, and Rodri was left calling for calm after Mikautadze somewhat optimistically appealed for a penalty after another charge into the box.