It is a pity, it is a pity! We played well and we were several minutes away from sensation. Boys did their best, fought. Fans did not stop. “Georgia, Georgia” was always heard from tribunes. It was unity of the team and spectators. By the way, so many spectators have not been on the Paichadze stadium since the match against Germany 17 years ago.
Everybody was waiting for this match, not only in Georgia. About 70 foreign journalists arrived. 160 our colleagues worked on “Dinamo Arena”. All tickets – 51 000 were sold. Traffic nearby territory of the stadium was limited by 7 o’clock… this match was important for our football players – a lot of countries watched this match and in case of good play, they might receive offers from top clubs.
Before the match, Spanish media paid attention to unpleasant moment. For example, they showed when Ketsbaia played for “Newcastle” and scored against “Bolton”, he kicked billboards. Fran Villalobos, journalist of Marca, called it crazy behavior. Also, he mentioned the demonstration of “Georgian Dream” in Karaleti when Kaladze was kicked with stones. Pathos was this: “We have to play against such team”.
Nothing was new and unexpected while the match. The Spanish team “caught” the ball and it lasted for 90 minutes. Italy and Germany cannot take the ball away from them and if we cannot do it, it is not a sin.
Unlike the match against Belarus, Ketsbaia made two substitutions in lineup – Dato Kirkvelia replaced Grigalava. Ucha Lobzhanidze was a right defender. Khizanishvili and Amisulashvili played in the middle. Kankava, Daushvili and Kashia played in midfield. Okriashvili and Targamadze were on wings. Mchedlidze was the only forward.
The Spanish team had expected lineup. Pique and Ramos in defense center, Arbeloa on the right and Alba on the left. Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets in midfield. Soldado and David Silva (“Manchester City”) were forwards.
The first dangerous moment occurred at the 10th minute when after corner kick of Xavi, Ramos shot the ball with head but Loria parried it. There were not many dangerous moments.
We were saved at the 28th minute: Silva kicked from a long distance and the ball touched goalpost. By the end of the half, the Spanish players attacked us: Xavi kicked from 25 meters, Loria parried it on corner.
Soon Soldado was one on one with Loria and it was fault of Kvirkvelia. Our goalkeeper parried the ball and then Iniesta kicked the ball. Fortunately, he missed it.
We played better in the second half. At the 54th minute Mchedlidze found Amisulashvili and he shot well but the ball touched goalpost of Casillas’ goal. Tornike Okriashvili was distinguished again. He proved that the national team has a new leader.
We watched debut of Nika Dzalamidze in an official match. Many rely on this boy.
One unpleasant moment occurred. Alba was in a good position but defender of “Barcelona” kicked unsuccessfully. At that moment, our goalkeeper Loria hurt leg and was not able to continue playing. He left the field and Roin Kvaskhvadze, keeper of “Zestafoni”, replaced him. At the end, even del Bosque jumped from the chair and gave strict instructions to his players. The Spanish players made combination and Roberto Soldado scored goal – 0:1.
It was a pity failure. We thank our football players for their devotion.
Georgia - Spain 0:1
Tbilisi. “Dinamo Arena”
Georgia: Loria (Kvaskhvadze 72), Lobzhanidze, Kvirkvelia, Kashia, Amisulashvili, Khizanishvili, Kankava, Daushvili, Targamadze (Dzalamidze 64), Okriashvili, Mchedlidze (Sirbiladze 79)
Head coach: Temur Ketsbaia
Spain: Casillas, Pique, Alonso, Ramos, Alba, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets (Pedro 57), Arbeloa (Fabregas 80), Silva (Cazorla 64), Soldado
Head coach: Vicente del Bosque
Goal: Soldado (86)
Referee: Svein Oddvar Moen (Norway)
Solomon Gulisashvili
