Spain also trembled like England, but qualified much easier for the quarterfinals of EURO 2024, after a 4-1 victory over a very courageous Georgia, even putting on a show towards the end of the game.
The goals were scored by Rodri, Ruiz, Williams, and Dani Olmo for the multiple European champions, and Le Normand, an own goal in the 17th minute, which brought peace among the tens of thousands of Spanish fans gathered in Koln.
Even though Spain was set to dominate the beginning of the game, things took a bizarre turn in the 17th minute, when after Kakabadze's cross from the right flank, Le Normand scored a silly own goal, to the dismay of Unai Simon.
However, the Spaniards knew what they had to do, and after a few minutes of counterattacks, playing openly, with their guard down, the efforts of Fuente's team were realized in the 38th minute, when the midfield brain Rodri scored an unstoppable goal past Mamardashvili, the Georgian goalkeeper who had made so many saves until then...
Right after the break, Fabian Ruiz scored with a header at the near post, after a splendid free-kick taken by Lamine Yamal, who at 16 years old became the youngest assist provider in the history of a European Championship.
Nico Williams sealed the match at Rhein Energie with a spectacular shot under the bar, after a lethal counterattack that reminded us of the Furia Roja team from the years 2008 - 2012, with Torres, Silva, or Puyol among the heroes. The spectacle continued, and Dani Olmo, the playmaker in yellow and red, also scored, a superb goal from the edge of the box, undoubtedly delighting the eyes at this EURO.
Spain will face Germany in the quarterfinals, in a final that may be played too early, on Friday, July 5. It will be a rematch of the EURO final in 2008 or the World Cup semifinal in 2010.
Georgia did not disappoint against the feared Spain, even leading for a short period of the game. It is their very first participation in the EURO. Spain has 4 wins out of 4 in this European tournament, with a frightening goal difference for their rivals, 9-1!
Match summary:
Full time, Spain advances to the quarterfinals!
Min.90: 3 minutes of added time!
Min.83: GOOOOOOAL Spain! Spain's playmaker Dani Olmo also scores today, in increasingly heavy rain. Impeccable shot from the edge of the box. It's worth noting that Spain is playing the most beautiful football at this EURO.
Min.80: Fuente also makes a substitution, Carvajal and Ruiz out, Merino and Navas in.
Min.78: Two more changes for the Georgians, Kvekveskiri and Zivzivadze come in, Gvelesiani and Mikautadze out.
Min.75: GOOOOOOOOOOOAL Spain, Nico Williams scores a splendid, powerful goal under the crossbar, after a lethal counterattack by the Spaniards, 3-1, it's all over!
Min.73: GOAL Spain, but it's offside, Lamine Yamal was in an offside position.
INFO: The shot count is 27-4 in favor of Spain. Davitashvili receives a yellow card for a foul on Olmo.
Min.68: Tsitaishvili shoots from the edge of the box not far from Unai Simon's goal.
Min.66: The Spaniards also make a substitution, Morata and Cucurella out, Oyarzabal and Grimaldo in.
INFO: Spain continues to dominate the midfield, maintaining possession, while Georgia increasingly rarely ventures forward.
Min.62: Two changes for the Georgians, Davitashvili and Tsitaishvili in, Locoshvili and Chakvetadze out.
Min.52: Pedri is substituted for Dani Olmo for the Spaniards.
INFO: Yamal becomes the youngest assist provider in the history of a European Championship, at 16 years old.
Min.51: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL Spain! 2-1 Spain, Yamine Lamal with the assist, after another splendid free-kick taken by him. Ruiz, from PSG, who also scored against Croatia, magnificently heads in at the near post.
Min.48: Kvarashkelia, the Georgian from Napoli, shoots from over 60 meters, but it goes just wide. Unai Simon had come out completely off his line.
INFO: Spain had 73% possession and 50 offensive actions for Fuente's national team.
The second half begins!
Halftime, 1-1 between Spain and Georgia.
Min.45: A flurry of corners at Georgia's goal, but the Georgians resist.
Min.43: Morata receives a yellow card after a very ugly foul in the midfield.
Min.40: Kiteishvili comes off injured, Altunashvili replaces him.
Min.38: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL Spain! 1-1, Rodri shoots perfectly from a distance, into the far corner, just like in last year's UCL final between City and Inter.
Min.37: Incredible save by Mamardashvili, he parries another dangerous shot, this time from Williams.
Min.34: Superb shot at the far post by Cucurella, but Mamardashvili makes another fantastic save, the man rejected by Universitatea Craiova 4 years ago!
INFO: Heavy rain has already started pouring down in Koln.
Min.26: Pedri tries another beautiful shot, but it goes over the bar.
Min.22: Fabian Ruiz's shot at the near post, but Mamardashvili makes another great save.
Min.17: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL Georgia!!! Incredible opening goal, Le Normand stupidly puts the ball into his own net, pressed by Kvarashkelia, 1-0 for the Georgians.
Min.12: Heroic defense by Georgia, Ruiz's shot blocked, then Nico Williams tries as well, but Gvelesiani clears.
Min.10: Nico Williams with a shot from distance, deflected, the Spaniards dominating heavily, another corner for them.
Min.4: Good shot by Pedri from 7-8 meters, but Mamardashvili catches it safely.
The match begins!
21.55: The two national anthems are played.
21.54: The two teams enter the field at Koln. Note that this match is under the sign of a new storm.
Starting lineups:
Spain: Unai Simón - Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella - Pedri, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz - Yamal, Morata, Williams. Substitutes: Remiro, Raya, Grimaldo, Vivian, Navas, Nacho, Baena, Olmo, Lopez, Zubimendi, Merino, Perez, Torres, Joselu, Oyarzabal. Manager: Luis de la Fuente.
Georgia: Mamardashvili - Kakabadze, Gvelesiani, Kashia, Dvali, Lochosvili - Kochorashvili, Kiteishvili, Chakvetadze - Kvaratskhelia, Mikautadze. Substitutes: Loria, Gugershashvili, Gocholeisvhili, Tabidze, Kverkveliya, Kvekveskiri, Altunashvili, Zivzivadze, Sigua, Kvilitaia, Tstaishvili, Shengelia, Lobzhanidze, Davitashvili. Manager: Willy Sagnol.
Stadium: Rhein Energie (Koln).
Referee: F. Letexier (France).
Georgia is one of the great surprises of this European tournament, being the only debutant among the 24 teams, yet the Georgians have advanced from the group stage in a tough competition, alongside Portugal, Czech Republic, and Turkey.
The triple EURO winner will attempt to secure a spot in the quarterfinals at Koln, where they will face a tough match against the host country, Germany. The Spaniards seem to be the most in-form team at EURO, with three wins and a goal difference of 5-0. Georgia defeated Ronaldo's Portugal and drew with the Czech Republic to earn their place here.
The two opponents tonight have met 7 times before, with "Furia Roja" recording 6 victories, including a memorable 7-1 victory in Tbilisi last year, in the qualifiers. Georgia has only defeated Spain once, a 1-0 win in a friendly match played in 2016.
The match will be broadcasted on ProTV.