Spain fought back from a shock opener to eliminate Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Georgia, confirming their status as favourites with a 4-1 victory setting up the quarter-final against Germany.
The minnows had Anzor Mekvabishvili suspended after the 2-0 win over Portugal saw them reach the Round of 16, while La Roja fielded ex-Serie A men Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz.
It was a siege from the start with Spain pouring forward constantly, but at the first break on the counter, Georgia scored when an Otar Kakabadze cross for Kvicha Kvaratskhelia bounced in off Robin Le Normand’s stomach.
The game continued in this vein, with Spain attacking constantly and Georgia a danger on the counter, as Marc Cucurella and Nico Williams forced saves until Rodri drilled low into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Kvaratskhelia saw Unai Simon off his line and the lob from inside his own half was only narrowly wide of the open goal, while Lamine Yamal’s free kick was palmed away, but the move continued and a Yamal cross to the back post found the Fabian Ruiz downward header to beat Giorgi Mamardshvili.
Yamal also forced an own goal on 73 minutes, but was offside when the ball across ricocheted in off the Georgia player.
Moments later, Nico Williams surged forward and smashed it into the roof of the net from a tricky angle to put Spain beyond reach.
Dani Olmo made it 4-1 with a great first touch to control and dummy the defender on the edge of the box, shifting it onto his left to bend into the far bottom corner.
Spain 4-1 Georgia
Le Normand og 18 (G), Rodri 39 (S), Fabian Ruiz 51 (S), Nico Williams 75 (S), Olmo 83 (S)
