The Spanish men’s soccer team beat the Georgia team (0-4) this Saturday at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi to seal their virtual qualification for the next World Cup in the absence of the last matchday next Tuesday against Turkey, with another recital of goals and without conceding: 19-0 in five games.
Without Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri or Rodri, Spain showed that, as Luis de la Fuente always defends, it has a wardrobe to be optimistic about its future. The current European champion gave Georgia no option with ample possession, strong pressure after loss and a high offensive pace with aim.
Mikel Oyarzabal, with a penalty, Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres resolved the match in the first half. The ‘Red’ liked it and also handled the home team’s counterattack attempts. In the second half, Spain did not have as much punch although Oyarzabal made it 0-4 with his own double, keeping another clean sheet despite the final blows of the Georgians.
Despite the losses, the team was once again faithful to its style and its confidence in what it does. Luis de la Fuente’s men made it easy in fact, combining and always finding the right space with which to bother a Georgia that said goodbye to the World Cup. Spain, with 15 points, will be first in the group even if it loses to Türkiye on Tuesday in La Cartuja, unless it loses 0-7.
With good intentions expressed on the Tbilisi grass, the 2010 world champion was close to taking the lead in the first minute. Furthermore, Ferran Torres claimed a penalty that did not attract the attention of the referees, but after ten minutes, another handball with the Valencian as the protagonist did result in a maximum penalty.
Oyarzabal, De la Fuente’s goal man, converted the maximum penalty. Shortly after, a great pass from Fabián Ruiz first defined him perfectly, also as a forward without being one, Zubimendi. The locals wanted to react to the 2-0, going to the opposite field with some hopeless runs, looking for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, by far their best player.
However, in a perfect combination between Álex Baena, who had earlier sent a ball to the post, Oyarzabal and Ferran, the Barça player made it 3-0 just after half an hour of play. Local goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili avoided a major rout at half-time, and also in the second half, although the pace of the ‘Red’ was not as high and Georgia caused more problems.
The local team wanted to press high and Anzor Mekvabishvili had the first shot on goal, centered and easy for Unai Simón. De la Fuente returned intensity with the entry of Fermín and Pablo Barrios, and Oyarzabal signed his double with a header. Another record in the ‘txuri-urdin’ scoring recital to seal the match.
Borja Iglesias, who had just entered, forgave a one-on-one and Georgia was unable to catch the negatives of a final with less visitor tension due to the result, Marcos Llorente and Aymeric Laporte saviors. Spain kept a clean sheet once again and surpassed its historic streak of unbeaten games (30) to secure its ticket to the World Cup, despite Turkey’s victory over Bulgaria (2-0), second in Group E and destined for the play-offs barring cataclysm.
TECHNICAL SHEET:
–RESULT: GEORGIA, 0 – SPAIN, 4. (0-3, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS:
GEORGIA: Mamardashvili; Mamuchashvili, Locoshvili, Goglichidze (Kashia, descanso), Gocholeishvili; Kiteishvili, Mekvabishvili (Tsitaishvili, min.72), Tabatadze (Kvernadze, min.57); Davitashvili (Abuashvili, min.85), Zivzivadze (Kvilitaia, min.72) and Kvaratskhelia.
SPAIN: Unai Simón; Porro (Llorente, rest), Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Fabián (Pablo Barrios, min.62); Merino (Fermín, min.62), Baena, Oyarzabal (Borja Iglesias, min.71); and Ferran Torres (Yéremi Pino, min.80).
–GOALS:
1 – 0, min.11, Oyarzabal (penalty).
2 – 0, min. 22, Zubimendi.
3 – 0, min.34, Ferran.
4 – 0, min.63, Oyarzabal.
–REFEREE: Benoit Bastien (FRA). He cautioned Merino (min.57) in Spain.
–ESTADIO: Boris Paichadze National Stadium (Tiflis).