Dani Olmo and that lifesaving goal in Tbilisi

Tbilisi is always a challenging place, with only two previous visits by Spain resulting in narrow victories and an extra dose of effort. Georgia, ranked 78th by FIFA, is a team that competes particularly well when playing at home and has made life very difficult for the national team both in 2012 (0-1) and in 2021 (1-2). The latter match, during the pandemic, was resolved with a last-minute goal.

Dani Olmo scored it, and it meant a relief for Spain, which was anxious because Georgia's strategy pushed them to the limit. Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring before halftime, and the team had to fight back in the second half, needing to secure three points to improve their Euro Cup qualification chances. First, Ferran scored, and then Dani Olmo, who, in his return to the Boris Paichadze Stadium in Tbilisi, remembers that lifesaving moment.

"I have very fond memories," he reveals as he looks at the goalposts, that moment still vivid in his mind. "It was a goal in the last minute, a very important and hard-fought victory. It was a tough match; they pressed us and took the lead. We managed to equalize with a goal from Ferran. Then, we kept pushing and pushing, but they defended very well. In one of those plays, Jordi gave me a great pass between the lines. I turned, had a bit of space, saw it clearly, and it went in." It was a fantastic goal and was celebrated in a big way.

Spain is now in need of three points in this qualifying phase, and Olmo, aware that it will be a demanding test, is confident in the team's good work during the week: "It will be tough. We are always obligated to win. After starting with a victory against Norway and losing to Scotland, this will be a crucial match in the standings, so we're going all out."