According to Spain’s AS, before the Euro 1/8 final, the Spanish and Georgian teams had vastly different rest periods.
In Spain’s case, since their match against Italy on June 20th, seven key players, including goalkeeper Unai Simón, defenders Carvajal and Cucurella, midfielders Rodrigo, Fabián, Pedri, and forward Nico Williams, have not featured again, enjoying almost 10 days of downtime. Ferran Torres was the only one to retain his starting spot in the last match, with Lenoirmand, Yamal, and Morata making brief appearances.
On the other hand, Georgia fought hard to secure third place in their group and qualify, with core players like Kvaratskhelia playing 253 minutes and Mikautadze logging 268 minutes in the tournament. The team has undergone significant physical exertion across three consecutive group matches.
This disparity in rest has sparked debate. Some worry that Spain’s extended break could negatively affect their performance, while the battle-hardened and momentum-filled Georgians might compensate for their fatigue with high spirits and determination.
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente isn’t concerned. He emphasizes that the team has maintained high-intensity training at their camp in Donaueschingen, ensuring that players who featured in the last game remain sharp. This strategy allows Spain to balance rest and match readiness for players like Rodrigo (who has played over 5000 minutes this season) and Carvajal, as well as those needing recovery time like Pedri, Cucurella, Fabián, and Williams.
Spain has employed a rotation policy, whereas Georgia has been virtually at full strength throughout. In their upcoming clash in Cologne, Spain’s rest advantage could prove decisive.