Spain - Georgia predictions and free betting tips [30/06/2024]

In the Round of 16 of the European Championship, a match between the national teams of Spain and Georgia will take place on 30 June at the RheinEnergieStadion (Cologne).

Predicted line-ups

Spain: Unai Simon (GK), Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Pedri, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Álvaro Morata (C), Nico Williams.

Georgia: Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK), Otar Kakabadze, Guram Gvelesiani, Solomon Kverkvelia (C), Luka Lochoshvili, Lasha Dvali, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Giorgi Kochorashvili, Otar Kiteishvili, Georges Mikautadze, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Spain's line-up for the play-off match

In their third match, Spain's coach De la Fuente fielded a completely reserve team, changing 10 players compared to the first two games. The reserves, including Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alejandro Grimaldo, Jesús Navas, and David Raya, performed excellently and gave Albania no chance. In the first two matches, De la Fuente hardly changed the squad, except for the central defenders.

Goalkeepers

Unai Simon is certain to start in the play-offs, although David Raya has shown himself well both in Arsenal and in the national team throughout the season.

Defence

In the centre of defence, Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand will play, although Nacho, who has moved from Real Madrid to Saudi Arabia, might feature. However, Croatia had many dangerous moments in the first match with Nacho, so the more experienced Laporte is likely to play. On the left, Marc Cucurella will play, leaving no chance for Alejandro Grimaldo, who had a superb season with Bayer. Marc didn't perform ideally at Chelsea but is a different player in the national team. On the right, Dani Carvajal's position is unquestionable – he scored against Croatia and is having his best attacking season.

Midfield

Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, and Pedri are almost irreplaceable in midfield. Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Dani Olmo are too inexperienced to start against Georgia unless there are injuries. Pau Torres played the third match excellently and may compete on the right with Nico Williams. Still, Iñaki's brother showed immense potential in the first two matches and deserved to start in the play-offs. On the left, Lamine Yamal plays as if he's long been in the national team, meaning Mikel Oyarzabal won't start despite his extensive experience.

Attack

Álvaro Morata, despite all criticism, is playing well and essentially has no substitute. Joselu played in his position in the third match but wasn't memorable. Morata, who scored a brace against Bayern in the Champions League semi-final, is following Nacho out of Real Madrid for financial gains.

Georgia's line-up for the play-off match

Unlike Spain, Georgian coach Willy Sagnol cannot afford to rotate the squad, and the same core team played all three matches, leading Georgia to a historic play-off qualification.

Goalkeepers

What Giorgi Mamardashvili is doing is true heroism. He has already earned a spot in the tournament's best XI and is likely to become the best goalkeeper of the Euros. Mamardashvili made over 15 saves and will surely move to a top club after the tournament. The hunt for him has already started.

Defence

Sagnol plays a 5-defender scheme, with Giorgi Kverkvelia, Guram Kashia, and Lasha Dvali occupying the centre positions. However, Dvali played on the left in the last match, replaced by the younger Luka Lochoshvili. On the right, Otar Kakabadze and Otar Kiteishvili interchange. Kakabadze even played as a left-wing back against Portugal. Other defenders get almost no starting time, and Sagnol tends to substitute defenders with forwards to score in the final minutes.

Midfield

Giorgi Kochorashvili and Giorgi Chakvetadze started all three matches. Against Portugal, Otar Kiteishvili replaced young Anzor Mekvabishvili, who won't play due to a yellow card suspension. Zuriko Davitashvili, a former Rubin and Rotor player, started against the Czech Republic and was impressive. He also contends for a midfield spot.

Attack

Georges Mikautadze and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are the main hopes of all Georgia. They started all three matches and were superb, especially Mikautadze, who is rumoured to be negotiating with Monaco. Khvicha didn't perform well in the first two matches but looked like the Kvaratskhelia all top clubs are chasing against Portugal.

Spain

The Spanish national team demonstrated a high level of play during the Euro 2024 group stage, securing three convincing victories and achieving the maximum possible 9 points. In their opening match, the Spaniards easily defeated Croatia 3-0, minimally beat Italy 1-0 in the second round thanks to an own goal, and narrowly edged Albania by one goal in the final match. These results allowed Spain to top the group. Coach Luis de la Fuente actively rotated the squad, making 10 changes in the last match, which didn't hinder the team's stable performance. The foundation of their success was a well-organised defence and effective utilisation of attacking chances without pointless possession. Álvaro Morata stood out in attack, significantly influencing the team's play despite not scoring. Manchester City midfielder Rodri was a key player in midfield, controlling the game's tempo and assisting in defensive actions.

 Luis de la Fuente's new tactical vision, abandoning sterile possession in favour of more dynamic and direct play, was also crucial for the Spanish team. Quick attacks through the flanks, actively involving Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal, added sharpness to the team's actions. This approach allowed Spain not only to control the matches but also to create a considerable number of goal-scoring opportunities. Spain at Euro 2024 showcased not only tactical flexibility but also the ability to maintain high-intensity play throughout the tournament. This approach positioned them as one of the tournament favourites, demonstrating their capability to overcome various tactical challenges and adapt to opponents' diverse styles of play.

Georgia

The Georgian national team became a true sensation in the Euro 2024 group stage, showing impressive results in their first performances at this level. The team started the tournament with a loss to Turkey (1-3), then drew with the Czech Republic (1-1), and sensationally defeated Portugal (2-0). These results enabled Georgia to secure a historic play-off spot, earning 4 points and finishing 3rd in Group F. The main driver of Georgia's success is their forward Georges Mikautadze, who brilliantly conducted the group stage, scoring three goals (two from penalties). His partnership with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who also scored in the match against Portugal, helped the Georgians make history. French coach Willy Sagnol successfully implemented an original 5-3-2 tactical scheme (which transitioned to 3-5-2), emphasising discipline and game organisation.

Sagnol significantly contributed to solidifying the defence, organising play with three central defenders and maximising counterattacks. This tactical change made the Georgian team less vulnerable and capable of competing equally with more titled opponents. This style helped Georgia not only maintain hopes of advancing beyond the group with a draw against the Czech Republic but also achieve an unexpected victory over Portugal, which cannot diminish Sagnol's team's achievements.

Head-to-head

Spain and Georgia have faced each other in the qualifying stages of several major tournaments, with Spain showing clear dominance, winning 7 out of 8 matches and losing just one. In the last Euro 2024 qualifying cycle, Spain defeated Georgia twice with substantial scores – 7-1 away and 3-1 at home. Álvaro Morata scored a hat-trick in one of the games, while Ferran Torres, Robin Le Normand, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal also contributed to the confident victories. The teams also met in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, where Spain won both matches: 4-0 and 2-1. Current squad members Unai Simon, Rodri, Aymeric Laporte, and Mikel Merino played then but were not leading figures. Georgia managed to defeat Spain only once in a 2016 friendly match, winning 1-0. In the 2014 World Cup qualifying cycle, Spain also met Georgia and secured two victories – 2-0 and 1-0.

Match prediction: Spain vs Georgia

Georgia's fairytale will end today, much to the dismay of neutral fans. Spain has been the best team in the tournament in terms of the quality of play, despite playing their second-string in the last round. Expect a confident victory for La Furia Roja with a -2 handicap. Bet 2: Georgia to win goal kicks with a handicap of (-6.5). The Spaniards will combine a lot around the penalty area and shoot at goal, not always accurately. The Georgians will have plenty of goal kicks to take.