Georgia in opposition to Spain, 9 months after conceding seven targets

Making their debut within the European Championships after the Nations League and eliminating Greece within the play-off, they made a splash and are reunited within the spherical of 16 with La Roja, who crushed them within the qualifying part.

Georgia within the spherical of 16 of the Euro Cup. The not possible grew to become actual after a victory as epic because it was surprising in opposition to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. The Georgia of Kvaratskhelian and Mamardashvili, heroes of a inhabitants that vibrates by some footballers going through a authorities that appears in direction of Moscow in opposition to the overall sentiment of the overwhelming majority of a rustic that goals of becoming a member of the European Union.

Mamardashvili was a key participant in Georgia’s victory over Portugal. Getty Photographs

It’s troublesome to say Georgia in terms of soccer, however on Sunday 30 June, they are going to expertise an important match of their historical past once they face Spain in Cologne, in an unthinkable tie, seven months after shedding 3-1 in Valladolid and 9 months after struggling their worst residence defeat, 1-7 in opposition to La Roja in Tbilisi, with a hat trick from Morata.

The Georgian crew started to dream of the Euros due to the Nations League, the place they already made a splash by profitable their Division C group over Bulgaria, solely drawing as soon as in six video games. That gave them the fitting to play within the play-offs no matter their place within the qualifying part, the place they completed fourth, behind Spain, Scotland and Norway.

They beat Luxembourg 2-0 within the semi-final and within the last, the ultimate duel, they beat Greece within the penalty shootout to attain the best success of their soccer historical past.

Associated

2 Associated

On paper, it is a tie with Spain clearly in favour. Seven matches since 2012 have ended with six Spanish victories and just one Georgian victory, though this was in June 2016, Spain’s final pleasant earlier than the European Championship in France, which might imply the unhappy farewell of Vicente del Bosque as coach of La Roja.

Each groups have modified lots within the final eight years. Spain has already consumed two coaches (Lopetegui and Luis Enrique) whereas Georgia, with out abandoning its position as Cinderella, is exhibiting the world wonderful footballers.

It occurs with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Napoli’s undisputed star whose identify factors to a million-dollar switch, and it additionally occurs with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Valencia goalkeeper and one of the excellent on this first part of the event in Germany.

In September 2023 he conceded seven targets by the hands of the crew led by Luis de la Fuente and every thing means that on Sunday he’ll say goodbye, with honor, to this primary Euro Cup he has performed.

The glory and the dream, nonetheless, nobody will take away from Georgia.