Spain 4-1 Georgia: Resilient La Roja fight back to reach last 16

Spain’s perfect campaign continued as they overcame a courageous Georgia to set up a UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-final against hosts Germany on Friday.

Spain’s early efforts came via the left as they played through the quick-footed Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal – the youngest player to make a EURO knockout round appearance (16 years and 353 days).

Georgia were set up deep and compact. As Spain edged closer and closer, it wasn’t long before Giorgi Mamardashvili was tested by Dani Carvajal’s downward header.

One-way traffic ensued, until against the run of play, Willy Sagnol’s side launched a surging counterattack. And as the red shirts scrambled back, Lasha Dvali’s searching cross from the right wing seemed destined to find the arriving Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Robin Le Normand made contact first to turn into his own net on 18 minutes – the first goal La Roja had conceded at EURO 2024.

Luis De La Fuente’s side pushed the Crusaders back in the second half, winning a free-kick just outside the box. Mamardashvili blocked Yamal’s initial effort, but Spain recycled possession, and this time Yamal picked out Fabián Ruiz to glance home.

Spain began to slow the tempo as the fearless Georgia continued to breakaway and space started to appear.

Williams cut in from the left to coolly curl in La Roja’s third goal, before Dani Olmo fired an 83rd-minute fourth to a sheen to the scoreline.