Spain v Georgia LIVE: Euro 2024 result as Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal inspire La Roja into quarter-finals | OneFootball

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Germany fans sing You'll Never Walk Alone before Euro 2024 match

Stylish Spain recovered from the shock of conceding an early own goal to eventually overrun a tireless and spirited Georgia 4-1 and surge into a mouthwatering Euro 2024 quarter-final with Germany.

After withstanding a near-constant early assault, with outstanding keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili making several good saves, Georgia stunned the crowd by taking the lead with their first attack after 18 minutes when Otar Kakabadze’s fizzing cross was diverted into his own net by the chest of Spain’s Robin Le Normand.

The Spaniards levelled the last-16 contest through Rodri from the edge of the box in the 39th minute and, after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost scored a stunning second from near the halfway line for the tournament outsiders, Fabian Ruiz headed Spain ahead six minutes into the second half.

Spain continued to press and probe but the Georgians ran themselves ragged to keep them at bay until Nico Williams finally broke clear to slam in the third, with Dani Olmo neatly tucking home the fourth goal seven minutes from time to secure their fourth win of the tournament.

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Spain pass a new test in familiar style to make Euro 2024 statement

Two sides who could scarcely have more different tactical ideas and playing styles.

Two sides who have polar opposite histories, in international footballing terms, too.

Georgia’s men’s side had never been to a major international tournament before this summer, let alone scored a goal or won a game. Or even, if we can entertain such fanciful notions, of reaching the knock-out stage. Spain won the European Championship as recently as 2012, reached the semis last time out and were world champions only 14 years ago.

Football heritage and history isn’t only made up of the men’s Euros and World Cup, though, so the true contextual national gap is even wider: Georgia’s women have never been to a tournament either, whereas La Roja are the reigning world and Women’s Nations League champions. There is quite simply an enormous gap between the two, a chasm so large in football terms that it almost defies explanation.

But for 21 minutes at Euro 2024, there was an almighty shock on. For 21 awe-inspiring minutes, an incredible dream received the most raucous, sensational backing from the stands and one of the very biggest of favourites were truly, visibly shaken.

Spain pass a new test in familiar style to make Euro 2024 statement

Spain 4-1 Georgia: An own goal threatened the mother of all upsets but Nico Williams scored one and made another in a comeback victory

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 22:08

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Lightning, hailstones, YMCA and 36 minutes of football: Inside the chaos at Euro 2024’s Dortmund fan park

If you believe lightning can’t strike twice, ask Joachim Andersen. The unfortunate Danish defender was twice left to rue VAR interventions in the space of a few minutes, firstly for a miniscule offside call to rule out his goal and then for a flick of his fingers by the ball to give Germany their penalty and the lead.

And if you think lightning can’t strike about 500 times, ask the tens of thousands of supporters gathered in the Westfalenpark fan zone to watch the game, evacuated from the area and told the match screening would not resume, as the electrical storm rapidly approached, then lit up the night sky across much of western Germany for the ensuing four hours.

Lightning, hailstones and YMCA: Inside the chaos at Euro 2024’s Dortmund fan park

One game wasn’t shown and less than half the Germany match was too as an electrical storm ripped through the city but fans do what they always do: they found a way

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 22:45

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FT: Spain 4-1 Georgia

That is, sadly, the end for Georgia at a tournament they have enlivened on and off the pitch. This felt like the natural stopping point for their story, though they leave with heads held high.

(Getty Images)

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:55

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FT: Spain 4-1 Georgia

A valiant effort from Georgia, but ultimately Spain’s mastery and might showed. Four goals, a couple of them beauties, and into the last eight this growing side fly, looking better and better despite an early fright today. They’ll head for Stuttgart for a proper ding dong with the hosts on Friday.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:54

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FULL TIME: Spain 4-1 Georgia

(Getty Images)

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 21:51