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 4-1 Georgia, 90 + 1 minutes
Into three additional minutes. Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo almost connect for a fifth, but the latter’s shot is blocked.
Spain 4-1 Georgia, 89 minutes
Towards the close we wind with Spain beginning to size up Germany. Dani Olmo tests the gloves of Giorgi Mamardashvili one more time, trimming the grass with Spain’s 32nd shot of the match.
Spain 4-1 Georgia, 85 minutes
Georgia have been excellent at Euro 2024 and their impact on the pitch and in the stands has been a more than welcome addition. This is just a step or two too far for them and there's no shame in that whatsoever - there's a good reason Spain are a heavy-hitting favourite and they've shown another side to their game here. It's worth remembering this is the first time they've conceded at the tournament, but they've bounced back from the early setback in perfect fashion. Bring on that quarter-final with the hosts.
GOAL! SPAIN 4-1 Georgia (Dani Olmo, 83 minutes)
It’s four!
Lamine Yamal had just dragged a shot wide of Giorgi Mamardashvili’s goal, but Dani Olmo makes no mistake from the edge of the box. It’s his touch that creates it, deft and delicate to wrong-foot a defender and open up the room he needs to curl for the corner.
Spain 3-1 Georgia, 81 minutes
Spain also ring the changes. The veteran Jesus Navas takes the place of Dani Carvajal, while Mikel Merino is on in midfield.
Spain 3-1 Georgia, 78 minutes
That should seal it, you’d think, though Georgia will give it everything in these final 12 minutes. Georges Mikautadze’s tournament is in all likelihood over - he and Giorgi Gvelesiani are replaced by Budu Zivzivadze and Nika Kvekveskiri.
GOAL! SPAIN 3-1 Georgia (Nico Williams, 76 minutes)
That one will count! A beauty!
This is some goal. Georgia throw bodies into an attack but come unstuck, Fabian Ruiz adroitly pirouetting out of a thicket and into a clearing. Ruiz picks out Nico Williams, on the move from the minute his midfielder got the ball, and springs him up the left.
There’s still plenty to do, but boy does Wiliams do it, out, in and out again to bamboozle a defender. The finish is equally pretty and precise into the roof of the net. Tasty!
OFFSIDE! Spain 2-1 Georgia, 74 minutes
Spain have the ball in the back of the net, but it won’t count! It’s gorgeous football up the right with Lamine Yamal buzzing about like a free electron, bouncing off Mikel Oyarzabal and in behind. His pass across is put past Giorgi Mamardashvili by one of the Georgian defenders with a couple of Spaniards waiting to tap in, but the flag is up with Yamal just, just offside.
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 72 minutes
Zuriko Davitashvili rather clumsily clips Dani Olmo to the floor, accepting his yellow card readily having recognised that he’d erred.
Georgia need to find a way of getting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia back into the game. Spain have done an excellent job neutrallising him since half time, that effort from inside his own half aside.
Spain 2-1 Georgia, 68 minutes
Ahh! A major opportunity for Giorgi Tsitaishvili, snatching at the chance and slicing wide having been left all alone getting forward from his wing-back position. A wild swing of his left boot when he had time to set his sights - you don’t feel like Georgia will have too many better chances.
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