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The narrative of the match was poised to be Georgia’s fairy tale. They had already slain the other Iberian giant, Portugal, with a stunning 2-0 victory. This led to the Caucasians qualifying for the knock-outs for the first time in the tournament’s history. 

Georgia’s journey was laden with drama. They qualified through the play-offs and booked the last available ticket for EURO 2024. Their campaign seemed doomed after a 1-3 defeat to neighbors Turkey and a 1-1 draw with Czechia. Facing Portugal, they defied the odds with an unexpected triumph, shocking everyone.

The End For Georgia

When they qualified for the knock-outs, Georgians were full of hope. However, the fixtures announcement brought a sobering reality as they learned they would face none other than Spain, the only team to win all three of their group stage matches. 

Alongside Germany, the Iberians are the clear favourites to win the tournament. Georgia, one of the worst-placed teams in the tournament, faced a daunting challenge, and it was no surprise that Spain dismantled them with a commanding 4-1 victory.

A Deceiving Scoreline

Contrary to what the scoreline suggests, this was far from Spain’s finest hour. It marked Spain’s best goal-scoring performance in the tournament so far, with only their 3-0 victory over Croatia coming close. However, unlike other minnows, Georgia refused to go down without a fight. 

For the first twenty minutes, the Caucasians absorbed the pressure while Spain played their usual possession-dominant game. Controlling the ball and dictating the tempo early on is a hallmark of Spain’s play, but their dominance often lacks cutting edge, as was the case against Georgia.

Despite the expectation that a goal was imminent, it didn’t come. Against the run of play, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia dribbled past the defence, and a simple mistake from Robin Le Normand led to another own goal – which by now has become the most common way of scoring. 

Though ‘Kvaradona’ did not land on the scoresheet, his presence frightened Spain’s backline. The Spaniards once again found themselves in a tough spot, having to chase the game against a team that was passionately defending their lead. Georgia continued showing bravery – even after taking the lead.

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Spain’s Reaction

Spain’s much-feared reaction of desperately chasing the goal was evident. La Roja repeatedly tried to ramp up the tempo for twenty minutes but to no avail. During these moments, Spain tends to become its worst enemy, attempting to skip crucial build-up steps and playing hastily.

La Roja, especially through Fabian Ruiz, launched several counterattacks, but Georgia matched their pace in breaking down these efforts. Whatever Spain threw forward, Georgia quickly sent back. 

While many feared this frantic pace could persist for the remaining twenty minutes, Spain finally realized they should play slower and maintain composure. This shift in approach led to Rodri’s equalizer in the 39th minute, just before halftime.

The equalizer was a godsend for Spain. They often notoriously struggle to break down the opposition when trailing by a goal. Despite the equalizer, Georgia kept fighting, adding another chapter to their intense campaign. Although Spain dominated possession, holding over 75%, Georgia still found opportunities to threaten.

As La Roja often rushed the game, it meant that the Spanish block was not as compact as it had previously been. Ultimately, the difference in quality was always going to tell against Georgia’s chances.

Over time, it became clear that relying on Fabian Ruiz for build-up wasn’t always effective. While he might be an engine, he’s incapable of methodically progressing through the center. Instead, Rodri often orchestrated plays, setting up Spain’s two dynamic wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. 

The two are younger than anyone else but act as the main players of their team. This became particularly visible yesterday, as Alvaro Morata’s movements led to very little danger, unlike his previous performances. 

Georgia struggled with Yamal’s signature move of cutting inside and pausing before shooting. A few of his shots were close, and it felt inevitable that Barcelona’s star would eventually score. He did not – but does it matter when it benefits the team?

The Importance Of Rodri

Rodri’s performance was nothing short of monumental, making him Spain’s standout player by a mile. His control over the game, especially when he played the long switches to the wings, was a game-changer. 

Rodri also acknowledged that scoring the equalizer before halftime was crucial in lifting the team’s spirits. Fabian Ruiz made it 2-1, often playing as a box-to-box midfielder and linking up with the wide players, leaving about forty minutes on the clock.

Georgia, to their credit, never threw in the towel. However, Nico Williams’ goal, marking Spain’s third, dashed their hopes. Dani Olmo’s strike was the icing on the cake. His performance echoed his heroics from the last tournament, injecting creativity and energy into the team. Whether he will reprise his role as a potential false nine, as he did against Italy in EURO 2020, remains to be seen.

The Aftermath

Most fans will be delighted with yesterday’s performance, as Spain has now booked their spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals. 

Expectations weren’t sky-high, but now Spain faces their biggest test. In a classic tournament clash, La Roja will square off against Germany, who just secured a 2-0 victory over Denmark. Similarly to Spain, Germany’s game involved a lot of grit despite their dominance, only finding their rhythm as the match progressed.

Spain’s fans shouldn’t be too ecstatic, as this upcoming match is the most significant test for Luis de La Fuente since taking over from Luis Enrique. Germany’s style of play is the perfect antidote to Spain’s approach, preferring a quick tempo and integrating players like Ilkay Gündogan and Toni Kroos. 

Spain repeatedly accelerated play when it shouldn’t have, leaving them vulnerable to counters – as seen against Croatia.

If La Roja aims to have a shot at the trophy, they must address these issues, which Germany is well-equipped to exploit. Between Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gündogan and Niclas Füllkrug, Nagelsmann has plenty of tools in his workshop to disrupt Spain’s game plan.

As for Georgia, they might be heading home and watching the rest of the tournament from their TVs, but considering this was their first appearance, they have plenty of reasons to be proud. 

They lost with honour and fought valiantly. All their performances were memorable, paving the way for future successes and inspiring the next generation. They have undoubtedly won the hearts of thousands.