Spain v Georgia LIVE: Team news, build-up and latest updates ahead of Euro 2024 last-16 tie

30/06/2024

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

Spain take on Georgia at Euro 2024 for a place in the quarter-finals.

La Roja have shone in Germany with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing a spark to establish Luis de la Fuente’s side as one of the favourites.

A magnificent display against Italy was followed up by a much-changed Spain outfit edging past Albania to maintain the only 100 percent record in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Georgia have grown in confidence behind Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Metz striker Georges Mikautadze, who has been linked with West Ham, to create history under Willy Sagnol.

Follow all the latest updates from Cologne plus the result and reaction from Gelsenkirchen as England play Slovakia:

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The unravelling of Luciano Spalletti leaves Italy with huge problems but no solutions

After the ill-fated start to Italy football’s campaign, it was a bizarre end. Were the Azzurri, Luciano Spalletti was asked, a Fiat Panda and Switzerland football a Ferrari? “You have to accept everything, even rather tasteless allusions like yours,” said the Italy manager. “You are clearly a wonderful exponent of sarcasm.” With that, he asked his interrogator’s name, smiled and took his leave.

From Euro 2024 but not, seemingly, from the Azzurri job. Italy’s worst European Championships for 20 years will not prompt Spalletti to resign. Rather, his inquest arrowed in on what he believes the failings are in Italian football, the types of players they do not possess and which they need. He did it while claiming he was not picking on the footballers he believes have produced two sub-par performances in a competition that only brought them one win. “There is no blame to anyone, I want to stress this,” he said. “The responsibility for what happens is mine.”

It was a noble attempt to spare others criticism. Yet there may be a truth: perhaps Spalletti and Italy are a mismatch of an impossible ideal and a relatively prosaic group. Euro 2024 showed a side that was less than the sum of its parts, where they only scored three goals, where the most recent and spectacular of them, from Mattia Zaccagni in the 98th-minute against Croatia, spared them a group-stage exit only to become the first team eliminated in the last 16.

The unravelling of Luciano Spalletti leaves Italy with huge problems but no solutions

The reigning champions crashed out of Euro 2024 against Switzerland with a whimper and now face big questions about their future

Jack Rathborn30 June 2024 13:34

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Spain’s biggest Euro 2024 challenge is to overcome their own defining trait

Three wins from three and impressive across the board, Spain weren’t just the only nation to pick up the maximum nine points in the group stage at Euro 2024, they were also the only nation to get through those first three fixtures without conceding a single goal.

There’s little doubt that Luis de la Fuente’s team have been one of the most, perhaps the most, impressive early performers at the tournament and that they’ve quickly marked themselves out as the team to beat, but they will now also be looking at their route to the final and acknowledging it’s going to be an extremely tough one.

First, it’s Georgia. The finals debutants have enthralled and enraptured with their gutsy showings, aggressive defensive work and adventurous counter-attacks, have the breakout star of the tournament so far and produced a display of real quality to beat Portugal last time out and book their last-16 spot. Beat them and Spain will potentially face the hosts, Germany; then if that hurdle is navigated it could be the World Cup finalists in France.

Spain’s biggest Euro 2024 challenge is to overcome their own defining trait

La Roja look one of the best sides in Germany - but they’ve shown a fatal flaw previously which has cost them dearly

Jack Rathborn30 June 2024 12:49

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Jamal Musiala weathers mighty storm but Germany’s real Euro 2024 test is still ahead

On a night of stoppages, Germany almost stumble, but keep going. That was summed up and sealed by Jamal Musiala’s smooth run and finish after a performance that, until then, had so many rough edges. That goal put a sheen on a match that had literally been so muddied, where Germany were somewhat fortunate to turn it all on two big decisions and a controversial Kai Havertz penalty. Just moments after Joachim Andersen had a goal ruled out for a genuine toenail offside, the ball hit his stretched hand for the call that ultimately led the hosts to a 2-0 win.

They had to work their way through a lot, though, including an extreme thunderstorm that saw the game paused for the players’ safety. It was another echo of the 1974 World Cup here, given how heavy rain besieged that tournament too. It remains to be seen whether it will be the same outcome – a German win. A touch of the gloss has gone from that opening win over Scotland, but they have now done that hard part – and it had become much harder than ever thought. This was Germany’s first tournament knockout win since 2016. It’s still the bare minimum expected. They might just have to go to the maximum for a potential quarter-final against Spain.

Jamal Musiala weathers mighty storm but Germany’s real Euro 2024 test is still ahead

Germany 2-0 Denmark: A match briefly suspended by a thunderstorm was eventually won thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Musiala but the hosts must improve if they are to lift the trophy

Jack Rathborn30 June 2024 12:47

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The secret behind Georgia’s thrilling Euro 2024 ride – and why Spain must beware

As Khvicha Kvaratskhelia attempted to put words to what he’d helped create, with so much joyous feeling swirling around his brain, his thoughts ultimately went to the only place they could. “I’d love to see what’s happening in Tbilisi,” the Georgia playmaker said.

It’s a nice line, of a type that can be said about many smaller countries enjoying a first national moment. Those who attend the tournament actually miss it, because the real event is back home: the parties, the elation. Granted, the thousands of raucous Georgians who made the pilgrimage to Gelsenkirchen for this historic 2-0 win over Portugal won’t be feeling like that, especially after their victorious team insisted on a celebratory photo in front of them.

While Kvaratshkelia and his teammates will now be watching videos from back home, everyone else should want to watch them. That doesn’t just apply to their elated countrymen.

The secret behind Georgia’s thrilling Euro 2024 ride – and why Spain must beware

Willy Sagnol’s team have taken the tournament by storm with their distinct style and enthusiasm with a last-16 tie with Spain to come

Jack Rathborn30 June 2024 12:46

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Spain v Georgia TV channel, start time and how to watch Euro 2024 fixture online tonight

Luis de la Fuente’s majestic Spain side will face Euro 2024’s surprise package Georgia in an intriguing last-16 tie this evening.

La Roja were arguably the only side to put in three impressive performances in their group games, smashing Croatia 3-0 before easily beating Italy to ensure qualification with a game to spare before their second team downed Albania.

And they’ll face a Georgia side that is looking to secure perhaps the biggest upset in European Championship history when the two face off in Cologne.