Spain players including Spain’s defender Dani Carvajal and Spain’s midfielder Mikel Merino celebrate after the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match between Spain and Georgia.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Three-times champions Spain survived an early scare to beat a spirited Georgia 4-1 on Sunday and reach the last eight of Euro 2024, coming out on top in an exhilarating encounter that brought an end to the minnows’ fairytale run.
La Roja will meet hosts Germany in the quarter-finals after sending a message of intent in a polished performance, with goals from Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.
They had gone behind in the 18th minute when Robin Le Normand turned Otar Kakabadze’s bouncing cross into his own net.
Spain had a perfect record in the group stage with three wins and no goals conceded, their best start since 2008 when they went on to win the tournament.
Coach Luis de la Fuente brought his first choices back into the starting lineup having made 10 changes in the final group game, while Georgia kept faith with a side that included the tournament’s joint top scorer and its leading shot-stopper.
Playing in their maiden Euros, Georgia were riding a wave of euphoria and seeking an unlikely Iberian double after last week’s staggering 2-0 win over Portugal sent them into the knockout rounds.
Spain were dominant from the outset and almost went ahead five minutes in when Dani Carvajal’s cross from the right found Pedri, who forced an early save from Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Williams came close soon after when his goal-bound shot was deflected wide of the target.
But Georgia stunned Spain when they went ahead as Georges Mikautadze found Kakabadze on the right and he whipped in an early cross that struck Le Normand and bounced into the net.
Spain kept their cool and equalised after 39 minutes when Williams picked out Rodri, who fired a low shot into the corner.
They made it 2-1 six minutes after the break when the magnificent Lamine Yamal’s curling cross was headed home by Fabian Ruiz.
Williams killed off any hope of a Georgia comeback with a superbly taken strike in the 75th before substitute Dani Olmo completed the rout with seven minutes left.
