Spain will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on minnows Georgia in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers Group A on Friday evening.
Spain will look to make amends for a 2-0 loss to Scotland when they face Georgia at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena. Scotland currently lead Group A with four wins from four games, but Spain have only played twice so far, while Georgia currently hold the second and final qualifying place in Group A with four points from three games.
With an odd number of teams in Group A, Georgia were not in action in the first matchweek. And they opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Norway. In June, they clinched a 2-1 win over Cyprus before they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Scotland in their previous qualifier, which was their first defeat in the competition.
The hosts’ second spot is unlikely to be safe, as they are only above Norway on goal difference. But they will also secure a play-off spot regardless of their qualification performance thanks to their Nations League exploits after winning promotion from League C.
Spain, meanwhile, slipped to a surprise 2-0 defeat to Scotland in their last Euro 2024 qualifier and head to Georgia needing a result. As usual, Spain held the lion’s share of possession at a whopping 75% at Hampden Park but were largely profligate with their attempts at goal. Not only were Scotland allowed to take an early lead, but they also held onto the clean sheet and saw out victory via a brace from Scott McTominay.
However, La Roja did manage to win the Nations League, meaning they will at least reach the play-off round irrespective of where they finish in Group A. Luis de la Fuente’s men defeated Italy and Croatia on the way to the title in the final-four tournament, showing fantastic defensive displays along the way.
Team News & Tactics
Georgia
"They said I'm not good enough to be regular in a TOP 5 league back in 2021"
– Khvicha Ballon d'Or Nominee Kvaratskhelia⭐️🇬🇪 pic.twitter.com/bzTdh8n3hS
— Georgian Footy (@GeorgianFooty) September 6, 2023
Having enjoyed what was a real Nations League romp last year, manager Willy Sagnol has earned lots of plaudits for his work with the Georgian national football team. The likes of Otar Kakabadze, Davit Khocholava, Giorgi Kvilitaia, and Luka Lochoshvili and Nika Kvekveskiri have not been included in the squad due to various reasons.
Staying put at Valencia this summer despite a slew of European top guns circling for his signature, 22-year-old shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili will start between the sticks this weekend, with the Crusaders expected to line up in a compact 5-3-2 counter-attacking formation.
The back three will be marshalled by experienced captain Guram Kashia, who operates at the heart, with Solomon Kvirkvelia and Giorgi Dvali likely to be tasked with taking care of Spain’s dangerous wide players.
Giorgi Aburjania ought to hold on to his place in the holding midfield role, where he, along with Giorgi Chakvetadze and Otar Kiteishvili, will offer the Georgia defence protection from Spain’s technical midfield while looking to set away the wing-backs on counters with long balls over the top every now and then.
The hosts also have a few talented forwards, most notably Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has scored ten goals for his country in 22 appearances, and former Metz and current Ajax man Georges Mikautadze, so they have the talent to make a dent in this Spanish rearguard, provided they are given the freedom to do so.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Mamardashvili; Kvirkvelia, Kashia, Dvali; Gocholeishvili, Chakvetadze, Aburjania, Kiteishvili, Azarovi; Mikaudtadze, Kvaratskhelia
Spain
Having burst onto the scene over the past few weeks, Barcelona starlet and 16-year-old Lamine Yamal is expected to be handed a full senior debut in the team’s next two matches, where an outing would see him become the nation’s youngest-ever player.
⚽️🪙 Nuestro Rodri, mejor jugador de la pasada #NationsLeague, es uno de los nominados al @ballondor.
👏🏼 ¡¡𝗘𝗡𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗘𝗡𝗔!! #VamosEspaña | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/lr7jxD47OB
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) September 6, 2023
There are unlikely to be any major surprises from head coach Luis de la Fuente Castillo in terms of the starting XI he selects for this match.
Named Spain’s new captain earlier in the year, one-time Chelsea misfit Alvaro Morata will spearhead La Roja’s attack here, and he could be supported by PSG’s Marco Asensio, Barcelona’s Gavi, and RB Leipzig’s Dani Olmo, the latter of whom has made a red-hot start to the new domestic campaign and is making goal contributions for fun.
Unai Simon ought to man the goal once again, with La Roja lining up in a 4-3-3 system. Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand will pair up in central defence. Dani Carvajal and Alejandro Balde are likely to be favoured in the full-back positions, while Fabian Ruiz is expected to operate in the midfield double-pivot alongside Rodri, aiming to dictate the play on Friday night.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Balde; Rodri, Ruiz; Asensio, Gavi, Olmo; Morata
Key Stats
- Spain haven’t scored more than one goal in their last three away Euro qualifiers, with all three seeing under 2.5 goals.
- Spain have won just two of their last seven games in normal time.
- Georgia are unbeaten in their last seven home games and have scored in six of those.
- Spain have conceded in five of their last eight games.
- Georgia were hit with a 4-0 drumming when these two sides last met at World Cup qualifying duties back in September 2021. Since then, Georgia have lost all four of their competitive games against Spain by an aggregate score of 9-1.
Player to Watch
Dani Olmo
Dani Olmo has enjoyed a tremendous start to the season for RB Leipzig, scoring five goals and assisting one in four appearances across all competitions. He stole the show in the German Super Cup with his hat-trick of goals, firing RB Leipzig to a stunning 3-0 victory over Bayern Munich, and has carried that form into the new Bundesliga season.
A player who stands out with his tactical intelligence, ability to find a killer pass, and ability to take on opponents, the 25-year-old looks set to add to his six international goals for Spain.
Prediction
Georgia 1-2 Spain
When taking into account the class of players available at the two sides’ disposal, this should be a formality for Spain away at Georgia. But they have only managed two victories in normal time in their last seven games, while defence has shown some signs of vulnerability of late, which can be exploited by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia & co. in the Georgian attack.
The hosts have been tough to beat at home, so La Roja may not run away with this game. With all that in mind, The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for the visitors.
