Madrid/Prensa Latina
By Fausto Triana
Of all of the potential rivals that loomed, Georgia is Spain’s rival within the spherical of 16 of the European Soccer Championship, a whim of destiny that’s being celebrated right here at present.
Will probably be subsequent Sunday at 6:00 p.m., native time, within the metropolis of Colonia, with clear favoritism for the Iberians.
With respect, however realizing that they’re clearly the favourites, Spanish followers and analysts are already starting to speak a couple of hypothetical match in opposition to the highly effective Germany within the quarter-finals of the event being held on German soil.
The statistics are damning. Georgia has solely crushed Spain as soon as, 1-0 in a pleasant in Madrid in 2016. The opposite six matches had been gained by La Roja, the latest of which had been overwhelming.
A 7-1 thrashing final September, with a hat-trick from Alvaro Morata, and a 3-1 victory in November 2023. Though the victory in opposition to Portugal the day earlier than within the remaining group match of the European Championship is a lift for the spirits of the Georgians, they don’t appear to be a critical impediment for the Spaniards.
The group led by former French participant Willy Sagnol carried out at a excessive degree in opposition to the Lusitanians, however with the benefit that their opponents didn’t discipline all their starters.
Nevertheless, Georgia confirmed tactical self-discipline in defence and nice velocity and sense in counterattacks. Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is their principal weapon, complemented by striker Georges Mikautadze (prime scorer of the event with three objectives), and the great goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Nevertheless, its principal shortcomings level to protection. He’s not identified for marking his opponents properly and on balls in his space, they get too confused. They’ll attempt to comprise a vertical Spain with a number of figures with numerous means to attain.
«When you’re a part of small groups, you already know you don’t have anything to lose. The one factor I mentioned earlier than the competitors was that it doesn’t matter what occurred, we simply did not should remorse something ultimately. What we needed to do was make the folks of Georgia proud and I believe we’ve got achieved that,” Sagnol mentioned.
La Roja, in any case, might be within the “scorching zone” of the competitors desk, together with Germany, France and Portugal.
Spain completed with a full 9 factors in group B of the competitors, leaving Croatia and Italy, along with Albania, with out appeals.
Concerning La Roja, we should as soon as once more reward their means to play. Incisive in assault with two younger wingers of nice velocity and virtuosity, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, a midfield with the correct path of Rodri Hernández, with the accompaniment of Pedri González, can be virtually sufficient.
#whims #destiny #Spain #rubs #arms #Eurocup
