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Perfect Spain overwhelming favourites as they take on ultimate underdogs Georgia, who have been the story of EURO 2016 so far, getting through to the Round of 16 against all the odds.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 30th June, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – ITV / US – FOX
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – ITVX / US –VIX
SPAIN PREVIEW: LA ROJA LOOKING FORWARD AFTER PERFECT GROUP STAGE CAMPAIGN
Group B could not have gone any better for Spain, who laid down a marker to all their rivals at this European Championships. Three games played, three wins over Croatia, Italy and Albania with five goals scored and none conceded saw them sail through to the Round of 16 with an exciting young team well complemented by some experienced winners.
The question now is whether the Spanish can carry such form into the knockout stage, where the stakes are ramped up and any dip in performance could see them dumped out. It would be a big surprise if Spain weren’t to maintain their recent high standards, having played such excellent football, but also with an impressive defensive resilience about them.
GEORGIA PREVIEW: SHOCK WIN OVER PORTUGAL SEES GEORGIA MAKE HISTORY
In their first ever appearance at the European Championships, Georgia have reached the knockout stage, a magical achievement for a nation of less than four million people. It’s thoroughly deserved though, following the most memorable win the history of Georgian football. Needing victory in their final group game to qualify, Georgia stunned EURO 2016 champions Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo in their starting line-up, beating Roberto Martinez’s side 2-0 in Hamburg.
As Martinez rested the vast majority of his usual starting XI with Portugal already through as Group F winners, Georgia took full advantage, capitalising on a loose pass to take the lead in the second minute through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the counter-attack. It got better for them in the second half, winning a penalty which was converted by Georges Mikautadze, now the leading scorer at EURO 2024 having scored in all three of Georgia’s Group F fixtures.
SPAIN TEAM NEWS: NACHO AND PEREZ DOUBTS, BUT RODRI BACK FROM SUSPENSION
Luis de la Fuente will welcome back Rodri into his starting XI following suspension, not that he would have played against Albania after all of Spain’s first-choice stars were rested. Expect them all to be back in for this one, with the same team as the one which beat Italy likely to be fielded.
Defender Nacho missed the last two group games through injury and if he fails to recover in time to play here, then Aymeric Laporte should deputise again. Ayoze Perez is also doubtful with a muscle problem.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Yamal, Morata, Williams
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Nacho (Injured), Perez (Injured)
GEORGIA TEAM NEWS: KITEISHVILI BACK, CHAKVETADZE TO KEEP HIS PLACE
After recovering from injury, Otar Kiteishvili played from the start against Portugal and was outstanding along with the rest of their team, so should retain his place in the side. Willy Sagnol is also likely to keep faith with Giorgi Chakvetadze, who has started the last two games over Zurito Davitashvili.
However, Anzor Mekvabishvili is suspended following his yellow card after coming off the bench on Wednesday and Luka Lochoshvili is a doubt after being forced off just past the hour mark in the same game.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Mamardashvili; Kakabadze, Gvelesiani, Kashia, Dvali, Lochoshvili; Chakvetadze, Kiteishvili, Kochorashvili; Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia
UNAVAILABLE: Mekvabishvili (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Lochoshvili (Fitness)
KEY STATS
SPAIN VS GEORGIA PREDICTION
After seeing how Georgia dealt with everything Portugal threw at them, not to mention the offensive threat they posed on the counter-attack, their fans have every right to believe that this Georgian fairytale can go on. The big question is how much did that heroic effort on Wednesday night take out of them, with little recovery time before another crunch game against arguably the most impressive team we’ve seen all tournament so far.
Spain’s key players are all well rested and full of confidence following their hugely successful group stage campaign. It’s hard to see them being caught out in the same way that Portugal’s largely second-string side was. Expect them to be tested here, but to pass this test and come out on top against a brave Georgia.
SPAIN VS GEORGIA TIP: SPAIN TO WIN