Georgia-Spain is a match on the fifth day of Group A of Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played Friday at 6 p.m.: predictions.
Spain is one of four national teams that did not take part in the qualifiers last June because they were engaged in the Nations League Final Four. Competition that Jose Luis de la Fuente’s men won for the first time in their history, beating first Italy and then Modric’s Croatia on penalty kicks.
Undoubtedly no small satisfaction for a selection that had not lifted a title in more than 10 years, when they won the European Championship for the second time in a row in 2012. The technical commissioner, who took over from Luis Enrique after the World Cup rout with Morocco, can also smile. Spain now must not dissipate the enthusiasm generated by the Dutch triumph. The road to Germany 2024 became more tortuous than expected after the defeat to Scotland (2-0) on the second day, a setback that few could have predicted, given that a few days earlier Roja had overwhelmed Haaland’s Norway with a very clear 3-0 victory. The Scots, meanwhile, have won them all, booking, in effect, first place. All that remains for Morata and his teammates, barring any sensational comebacks, is to compete for second. The standings at the moment see Spain in fourth place, one point behind Norway and Georgia, who, however, have played two and one match more than the Iberians, respectively. Nothing is yet lost, then.
Delicate race for Spain
The Roja’s next engagement becomes, in any case, crucial: no more missteps are allowed. De la Fuente and his team will be on the scene in Georgia, a national team that is growing year after year and not only thanks to its brightest talent, Kvaratskhelia.
Kvaratskhelia
One draw, one win and one loss for the Caucasians in their first three matches, in which they were able to get the better of only Cyprus, beaten 2-1. One more effort is inevitably needed if they are to achieve that historic first qualification to the final stage of a European Championship that was only narrowly missed three years ago, when North Macedonia got the better of them in the decisive play-off. Willy Sagnol, Georgia’s technical commissioner, will be betting heavily on his jewel, “Kvara,” who was somewhat overshadowed in the first games with Napoli. On the other side, de la Fuente must do without Pedri but in compensation he has summoned the 2007 class Yamal, Barcelona’s canterano, ready to take over in the second half.
The prediction
Rebounded from victory in the Nations League, Spain should bounce back to win here as well: despite lagging behind the others, it is still the favorite for qualification. In Georgia, Roja will not commit any more missteps, although the Caucasians could make themselves dangerous on more than one occasion: at least two goals total.
The probable formations of Georgia-Spain
- GEORGIA (3-5-2): Mamardashvili; Kvirkvelia, Kashia, Dvali; Gocholeishvili, Chakvetadze, Aburjania, Kiteishvili, Azarovi; Mikaudtadze, Kvaratskhelia.
- SPAGNA (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Baldé; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Asensio, Gavi, Dani Olmo; Morata.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
