Euro 2024: ‘We Have Already Won The Euros’, Says Georgia Coach

• Georgia’s coach, Willy Sagnol, expressed confidence for their Euro 2024 clash with Spain, having already surpassed expectations
• Despite losing four times to Spain, Sagnol believes past defeats have taught valuable lessons, preparing them for this challenge

Georgia’s coach, Willy Sagnol, expressed confidence and relaxation as his team prepared for Sunday’s Euro 2024 clash with Spain. The team has already surpassed expectations by reaching the last 16.

“We will go into this game with much confidence because we have nothing to lose. We have already won the European Championship, and I am just excited to be on the pitch,” Sagnol told reporters in Cologne, where the game will be played.

This is Georgia’s first appearance at a major tournament. They advanced to the knockout phase with a surprising 2-0 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their last group match on Wednesday. Earlier, they lost 3-1 to Turkey and drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic, allowing them to progress from Group F as one of the best third-placed finishers.

Despite their impressive journey, Georgia faces a formidable challenge against Spain, the most dominant team in the tournament, having won all three group games without conceding a goal.

Georgia has faced Spain four times since Frenchman Sagnol became coach in early 2021, losing all four encounters. They were defeated twice in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and twice more in qualifying for this competition, including a 7-1 loss at home in Tbilisi last September.

Reflecting on the heavy defeat, Sagnol said, “It was a difficult moment for us, but sometimes, to get further in life, you need moments like that, where it is very difficult, where you are not good, where you think you have done everything bad. Without difficulties, you can’t have great achievements. It was part of our journey. If we are here today, I am sure this 7-1 taught us many things, and we learnt a lot of things from it.”

The 47-year-old former France international added, “Spain are the best team in the competition up until now, so it will be a tough match. We played four times against them and lost four times, but now it is a different competition, atmosphere, and environment, so many things can happen.”