Spain advanced to the European Championship quarter-finals after thrashing Georgia 4-1 on Sunday night.
EURO 2024
Result: Spain 4-1 Georgia
Date: 30 June 2024
Venue: Cologne Stadium
After resting the regulars in their final group game against Albania, La Roja Luis de la Fuente made ten changes by recalling his regulars that started the first two games.
Spain dominated early on but it was Georgia who broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when Robin Le Normand deflected the ball into his own net while trying to clear Otar Kakabadze's inviting cross.
La Roja continued to dominate thereafter but they were finding it tough to carve out serious openings, while they also had to be cautious not to get caught out by Georgia's pace on the counter.
However, Spain's patience was rewarded in the 38th minute when a neat passing move ended with Rodri, who skipped past one challenge before drilling the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box.
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The Spanish carried that momentum into the second period and turned the game around five minutes in when Lamine Yamal did well to pick out Fabian Ruiz, who nodded home from close range.
De La Fuente's charges thought they had added a third goal in the 73rd minute when Giorgi Gvelesiani turned Yamal's cross into his own net, but the offside flag came to Georgia's rescue.
However, Spain were not to be denied a minute later when Nico Williams embarked on a fine solo run before smashing the ball into the top corner to get the two-goal cushion.
The rout continued in the final ten minutes as Daniel Olmo rounded off the scoring in the 83rd minute after pouncing on a loose ball before calmly slotting into the bottom corner.
