Defending champions Spain lose their 11-match unbeaten run ahead of Euro 2016 after falling to defeat at home to Georgia.
Spain 0 Georgia 1
Spain suffered a shock 1-0 home reverse at the hands of Georgia in their final pre-Euro 2016 friendly last night.
Vicente de Bosque opted for the defensive quartet he mainly favoured over the qualifiers, with right-back Juanfran, who sets you back 5.5, the cheapest option in defence. The Atletico Madrid man was replaced at the break by Hector Bellerin (5.0), though, and bearing in mind that the latter played from start to finish in the previous two, there’s perhaps enough doubts over Juanfran’s pitch time to reconsider his acquisition.
Elsewhere at the back, Gerard Pique – owned by 11% compared to Sergio Ramos’ 29% – proved the greatest close-range threat for the home side and fired three attempts inside the box. David de Gea, meanwhile, was handed his first start in four, though admits he is still uncertain over starting berth given that Del Bosque has now fielded a different keeper in each of the last three.
Despite firing 17 attempts on goal, Spain managed a mere three shots on target, with Del Bosque’s decision to opt for Aritz Aduriz over the in-form Alvaro Morata up front failing to pay off. Given that the former managed a single attempt on goal, Morata will fancy his chances of returning to the XI for the first group match with Czech Republic.
Del Bosque once again opted for Nolito on the left flank. The Celta Vigo man was unable to replicate the form that harvested back-to-back braces against Bosnia and South Korea, he was still joint-top for attempts on goal (three).
The likes of David Silva and Andres Iniesta were afforded second-half sub roles by Del Bosque. The former teed up three scoring chances in just 38 minutes but his team-mates failed to convert.
Spain XI De Gea; Juanfran (Bellerin 46), Ramos (San Jose 46), Pique, Alba; Fabregas (Iniesta 46), Busquets (Pedro 76), Alcantara (Koke 46); Vazquez (Silva 61), Aduriz, Nolito
