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 1-1 Georgia, 48 minutes
Nearly a goal from the halfway line! Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is inches away from a truly extraordinary goal, setting off on one of his trademark weaves but spotting Unai Simon miles off his line. Without breaking stride, Kvaratskhelia releases a howitzer that whistles over Simon and just, just wide!
Spain 1-1 Georgia, 46 minutes
Scuffed! Spain are on it immediately, intricately painting up the right and Alvaro Morata finds Fabian Ruiz with a cut back. It looks to be coming at a nice pace for the midfielder, who leathers his laces at it but gets a horrible connection. Away it trickles for a goal kick.
Second half...
No changes to report with the players back out there for the resumption. Can Georgia keep amongst things or does that Rodri finish open the floodgate? Back underway.
HT: Spain 1-1 Georgia
Spain have their goal - and how they needed it. The frustrations had been on show a little too often, a little quicker over the past few minutes. Rodri had been trying to calm his teammates down with gesticulations not long ago; then he did it in rather more literal fashion, giving them breathing space with a fine low strike that even the excellent Mamardashvili cannot reach. That's what 80% possession gets you these days: level parity and the removal of panic.
Spain 1-1 Georgia, 47 minutes
Luka Lochoshvili’s leg sends a Dani Carvajal cut back spinning behind. Georgia deal with the corner, and that’ll be that for the half.
Spain 1-1 Georgia, 45 minutes
Georgia need to last through to half time, the fatigue of their defensive efforts in this first half really showing. Two more minutes to be played before the interval.
Spain 1-1 Georgia, 42 minutes
A double blow for Georgia. Otar Kiteishvili had hurt himself in the lead-up to that goal, battling gamely on but falling to the floor again after Rodri fired home. The medics help him limp away; Sandro Altunashvili replaces him in midfield.
GOAL! SPAIN 1-1 Georgia (Rodri, 39 minutes)
Spain are level!
At last, Georgia’s concrete curtain is breached. It’s the sort of goal that Rodri seems to score so often, the midfield hovering in the D and picking up the pieces, turning and firing into the corner from 20 yards. The VAR has a quick look at whether Alvaro Morata (in an offside position) is blocking Giorgi Mamardashvili’s line of sight, but it’s cleared soon enough.
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