Spain Remains Strong Since 7-1 Win In Tbilisi, Georgia Aims For Another Surprise

Lamine Yamal, a young player who is the mainstay of the Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente (photo: eufa.com)

JAKARTA - As Spain prepares to face Georgia in the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Sunday, June 30, memories will definitely lead to the 7-1 victory they won over the same opponent last year. The victory is believed to have helped La Furia Roja to rise and unite as a team in the midst of chaos in Spanish football.

Ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers in Tbilisi, when Spain had just lost 2-0 to Scotland, manager Luis de la Fuente had to answer questions about a scandal involving former football federation boss Luis Rubiales.

De la Fuente came under the spotlight after applauding Rubiales as he announced he would not resign amid controversy sparked by an unwanted kiss to player Jenni Hermoso after his team's win at the Women's World Cup a few weeks earlier.

De la Fuente, who has not managed to win the hearts of fans and experts after only training the Spanish youth squad for more than a decade, apologized and said he was under great psychological pressure.

He sought to ignore the idea that the furore could be a distraction to his team, while some key players read out statements condemning Rubiales' actions and asked the media to "focus on football" ahead of the match in Tbilisi.

Instead of dividing the team, the pressure seems to actually unite them. Spain took a 4-0 lead in the first half against shocked Georgia, with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, coming off the bench to seal a 7-1 win. Yamal became the international player and Spain's youngest goalscorer.

That performance was what Spanish football needed after the Rubiales scandal and the moment when De la Fuente and the players began to find a match. It also marks the first time coaches fielded Yamal and Nico Williams together, believing there was something big by relying on young players on the wing.

Spain won the rest of their game to qualify as group winners to Euro 2024, and have been stunning in Germany with three perfect wins from three difficult Group B matches with Italy, Croatia, and Albania's surprise package.

The Georgian players may also remember the 7-1 defeat as a benchmark of how far they have grown. They won the hearts of fans with a series of persistent appearances in the group stage which included a surprising win over Portugal which was reinforced by Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday, June 26.

However, they face a major test at Cologne and have to find a way to deal with Spain's relentless pressure and speed, where Williams and Yamal run on the wing. Before they can think about putting pressure on the Spanish goal, they have to outsmart the midfield where Rodri and Fabian Ruiz are in control and Pedri connects the entire team.

All of this may be too much to deal with for Georgia, but they will not give up without a fight.