There was agony and ecstasy for everyone on a rainy summer Sunday in Cologne, as the national team fell, got up, held their own and finally had time to express themselves against a combative Georgia.

Spain have now reached the quarter-finals and, for the first time in the history of the European Championships, have won four in a row, the last of which was the one that made the national team sweat the most.

Luis de la Fuente started with the same team that defeated Italy in Gelsenkirchen last week and, as on that occasion, the national team came out determined to get the job done and were in full battle mode as soon as the whistle blew.

The downpour of chances, in keeping with the weather, did not take long to arrive, with the Spanish wingers creating well with their work and Pedri in the middle coming close to opening the scoring after five minutes.

The giant Mamardashvili kept out Carvajal's header and Fabian's shot as pressure was being piled on the Caucasians.

It looked as if the wall was about to come down, but then came the typical tournament turn-up for the books that turned the game on its head in the form of a swift Georgian counter-attack, with a venomous cross from full-back Kakabadze ricocheting off Robin Le Normand and into the Spanish net.

It was a much-needed test of character for a team whose defensive record had been impeccable, and the team rose to the occasion.

Spain enjoyed 73% of the possession and had thirteen shots on goal to Georgia's none.

Among the Spanish team, midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez, named player of the match, stood out for his calming influence on Georgia's counter-attacks and his superb left-footed finish from Nico Williams' cross before the break.

The goal was just the tonic this wounded beast of a side needed to emerge with all their deadly ferocity after the restart.

Luis de la Fuente's men never wavered in their direct attacking play, and it was their wingers, once again the key to victory, who broke the deadlock.

First, Lamine Yamal found the head of Fabian Ruiz with a measured ball. Then, Nico Williams scored after a memorable slalom run and blasted finish to finish off the Georgian resistance in Cologne.

The only thing missing was a contribution from the bench, then it came, with an ice-cold Dani Olmo curling home with his left foot to cap off a flowing, damp and emotional Last 16 tie.

Now, hosts Germany await on Friday in Stuttgart to see if this team can break, once and for all, the curse that has weighed on Spain when playing the hosts at World Cups and European Championships. The next challenge for this prodigious generation is already on the horizon.