Spain v Georgia LIVE: Euro 2024 result as Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal inspire La Roja into quarter-finals
Spain 4-1 Georgia: La Roja turned on the style after falling behind to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final tie with hosts Germany
Stylish Spain recovered from the shock of conceding an early own goal to eventually overrun a tireless and spirited Georgia 4-1 and surge into a mouthwatering Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.
After withstanding a near-constant early assault, with outstanding keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili making several good saves, Georgia stunned the crowd by taking the lead with their first attack after 18 minutes when Otar Kakabadze’s fizzing cross was diverted into his own net by the chest of Spain’s Robin Le Normand.
The Spaniards levelled the last-16 contest through Rodri from the edge of the box in the 39th minute and, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost scored a stunning second from near the halfway line for the tournament outsiders, Fabian Ruiz headed Spain ahead six minutes into the second half.
Spain continued to press and probe but the Georgians ran themselves ragged to keep them at bay until Nico Williams finally broke clear to slam in the third, with Dani Olmo neatly tucking home the fourth goal seven minutes from time to secure their fourth win of the tournament.
Follow all the latest updates from Cologne plus the result and reaction from Gelsenkirchen as England play Slovakia:
Spain pass a new test in familiar style to make Euro 2024 statement
Two sides who could scarcely have more different tactical ideas and playing styles.
Two sides who have polar opposite histories, in international footballing terms, too.
Georgia’s men’s side had never been to a major international tournament before this summer, let alone scored a goal or won a game. Or even, if we can entertain such fanciful notions, of reaching the knock-out stage. Spain won the European Championship as recently as 2012, reached the semis last time out and were world champions only 14 years ago.
Football heritage and history isn’t only made up of the men’s Euros and World Cup, though, so the true contextual national gap is even wider: Georgia’s women have never been to a tournament either, whereas La Roja are the reigning world and Women’s Nations League champions. There is quite simply an enormous gap between the two, a chasm so large in football terms that it almost defies explanation.
But for 21 minutes at Euro 2024, there was an almighty shock on. For 21 awe-inspiring minutes, an incredible dream received the most raucous, sensational backing from the stands and one of the very biggest of favourites were truly, visibly shaken.
Spain pass a new test in familiar style to make Euro 2024 statement
Euro 2024: Harry Kane describes Jude Bellingham’s goal against Slovakia as ‘best in England’s history’
Gareth Southgate’s straitjacket suffocates England again – but one lesson emerges
But Gareth Southgate will again be left with questions after another subpar showing.
Gareth Southgate’s straitjacket suffocates England again – but one lesson emerges
Jude Bellingham’s divine intervention saves Gareth Southgate to reveal England truth
England, just about, limp on at Euro 2024, thanks to a moment of magic from their new midfield master.
Bellingham’s divine intervention saves Southgate to reveal England truth
Lightning, hailstones, YMCA and 36 minutes of football: Inside the chaos at Euro 2024’s Dortmund fan park
If you believe lightning can’t strike twice, ask Joachim Andersen. The unfortunate Danish defender was twice left to rue VAR interventions in the space of a few minutes, firstly for a miniscule offside call to rule out his goal and then for a flick of his fingers by the ball to give Germany their penalty and the lead.
And if you think lightning can’t strike about 500 times, ask the tens of thousands of supporters gathered in the Westfalenpark fan zone to watch the game, evacuated from the area and told the match screening would not resume, as the electrical storm rapidly approached, then lit up the night sky across much of western Germany for the ensuing four hours.
Lightning, hailstones and YMCA: Inside the chaos at Euro 2024’s Dortmund fan park
Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Jamal Musiala, Cody Gakpo and others battle to be top scorer in Germany
Europe’s best strikers are vying for individual honours as well as team success as they aim to top the scoring charts at Euro 2024.
The quadrennial continental tournament is currently taking place in Germany with many of the world’s top marksmen on show and battling it out for the Golden Boot.
Euro 2024 Golden Boot standings: Jamal Musiala and more battle for crown
How the quarter-finals look
Four Round of 16 games down, four to go:
July 5
Quarter-final 1, Stuttgart: Spain v Germany (1700)
Quarter-final 2, Hamburg: Portugal/Slovenia v France/Belgium (2000)
July 6
Quarter-final 4, Dusseldorf: England v Switzerland (1700)
Quarter-final 3, Berlin: Romania/Netherlands v Austria/Turkey (2000)
Euro 2024 fixtures: Full schedule, results and kick-off times
FT: Spain 4-1 Georgia
That is, sadly, the end for Georgia at a tournament they have enlivened on and off the pitch. This felt like the natural stopping point for their story, though they leave with heads held high.
FT: Spain 4-1 Georgia
A valiant effort from Georgia, but ultimately Spain’s mastery and might showed. Four goals, a couple of them beauties, and into the last eight this growing side fly, looking better and better despite an early fright today. They’ll head for Stuttgart for a proper ding dong with the hosts on Friday.
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