Dazzling Spain at Cologne

When Spain scored the own goal - the fear of an accident cropped up in the minds of the football followers, but, gradually ,it faded as Spain dished out a dazzling display to bury the Georgian hopes of an upset. 

Goals from Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Nico ­Williams and Dani Olmo, a lovely combination of quality, control and velocity confirming their status as favourites.

Georgia were no match for a team led by Rodri and who have Lamine Yamal and Williams tearing defences apart. 

The lowest ranked team in the tournament, 74 in the world, 35 in Europe, Georgia’s exit is no surprise. Credit to them for how far they came. 

It had only taken 50 seconds for Williams to go beyond Otar Kakabadze, just over a hundred of them for Fabian Ruiz to fire off the first shot, and less than 10 minutes for Giorgi Mamardashvili to have to make the first of nine saves as Spain started with intent. 

By the time Georgia got out, the possession stats read 86%-14% and the shot counted 9-0 but for all the dominance, when they did, they were devastating.

1-0 down and Spain lost a bit of control but restored it with a brilliant strike by Rodri and had Spain gone to half time break, it might have piled pressure. 

Willy Sagnol, the Georgia coach, felt it had been offside for interference from Alvaro Morata and questioned the use of VAR. 

Yamal got the ball back and clipped a gorgeous cross for Fabián Ruiz to head Spain into the lead. Yamal then saw two chances go past each post. Spain turned the screw, if in a more controlled manner. Exhausted, Georgia’s runs forward were fewer and more desperate.

Kvaratskhelia run coming to a close on the edge of the Spain area; in a flash, with fast feet, Williams was away. Cutting inside the Georgia area, he lifted the ball brilliantly over Mamardashvili and into the net to make it three. Now it was done, Olmo wrapping it all off with a fourth to see Spain into the quarter-final.

Germany will meet this dazzling Spanish unit in the quarterfinals. 

Let me tell you - Germany has to be at the top of their game to stop this Spanish team.

Note: Excerpts from the The Guardian

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar