Georgia coach Willy Sagnol emphasized that despite being considered rank outsiders, his team would approach Sunday’s Euro 2024 match against Spain in a relaxed manner.
He pointed out that Georgia had already surpassed expectations by reaching the last 16 of the tournament.
“We will go into this game with a lot of confidence because we have absolutely nothing to lose,” he said.
“For me, we have already won the European Championship and I am just excited to be on the pitch,” Sagnol told reporters in Cologne, where Sunday’s game will be played.
However, all indications point to Georgia’s run ending against Spain, who have been the standout team of the tournament thus far, winning all three group games without conceding a goal.
Since Willy Sagnol took over as coach in early 2021, Georgia has faced Spain four times, losing on all four occasions. They suffered defeats twice during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and again twice during the qualifiers for Euro 2024.
That included a chastening 7-1 reverse at home in Tbilisi last September.
“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,” Sagnol reflected.
“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 a lot of things and we learnt a lot of things from it.”
The 47-year-old former France international added: “Spain are clearly the best team in the competition up until now so that is why it is going to be a tough match.
“We played four times against them, we lost four times, but now it is a different competition, a different atmosphere, a different environment, so many things can happen.”
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