At the entrance to the stands of the Velbert stadium, mythomania is also part of the Georgian epic. On a table, fans have placed stickers of their heroes, a pink boot, a shirt of the manager Kavaratshkelia, a book on the history of Napoli and a letter also addressed to the Georgian star. Next to it, a marker with indelible ink reminds the players to sign the fetishes of their compatriots.
Before entering the mixed zone, Giorgi Mamardashvili (23 years old), the best goalkeeper of this Euro Cup so far, seems lost in contemplation of the cult objects spread out on the table. A dozen Spanish journalists and several Georgians are waiting for him. Some of the latter still have accommodation problems because their reservations ended at the end of the first phase. Mamardashvili’s saves have prolonged the Georgians’ stay until the round of 16, where Spain awaits. “He is the sensation of the Euro Cup, he is very complete, he is dominating between the sticks, one-on-one and the use of his natural hand or the changed hand, as in a save that stopped a shot that was going into the top corner,” says the former international goalkeeper Andrés Palop, now dedicated to observing goalkeepers throughout Europe to detect young talents.
Withdrawn in character and not fluent in Spanish despite his three years at Valencia, Mamardashvili allowed himself a hesitation before the Spanish press this Friday. “Kvaratskhelia is better than all of Spain,” he proclaimed before breaking out into an infectious laugh. More seriously, he warned: “For me, Spain is the great favorite to win the Euro Cup. Georgia, on the other hand, is a small country, but with a big heart and we have to fight as hard as possible to see what happens.”
Questioned about whether the Spanish undervalue Georgia, Mamardashvili opened the game of increasing the pressure on La Roja as the great favorite to advance to the quarterfinals: “We have already had a good Euro Cup. Now we have to enjoy, fight and compete.”
The tournament statistics reveal that Mamardashvili has conceded four goals, but he is the goalkeeper who has made the most saves (21) and the one who has received the most shots on goal. Despite this last figure, only three goalkeepers who have played in the three rounds of the group stage have a better save percentage than Mamardashvili (84%): Jordan Pickford (England, 88.9%), Mike Maignan (France , 90%) and Koen Casteels (Belgium, 91.7%). “It’s not easy,” he said of the widespread feeling that he is the great goalkeeper of this Euro Cup, “but I’m prepared for this. All year I wanted to play at this level and I am going to continue like this. I have been working with Ochotorena for three years [entrenador de porteros del Valencia] and being with him is a pleasure for me.”
Analysts point him out as the best young goalkeeper in Europe. “He is in the best showcase to say yes, but there are young goalkeepers who are also pushing a lot. Verbruggen (Brighton), Carnesechi (Atalanta), Chevallier (Lille), Trubin (Benfica), but right now I would say that Mamardashvili is ahead of everyone,” Palop adds.
The game plan he expects to be played will not be very different from the one Willy Sagnol ordered to be executed against Portugal. “We have to play well defensively and then we will see what happens on the counterattack. We have people up front who can do damage there,” says the Valencian goalkeeper. This type of play allows him to withstand the bombardment that Spain will try to subject him to. “He is supporting his team and transmits hunger in every action. He is very active and transmits the sensation that to score a goal he has to do it with very strong shots or very close to the posts or the corners,” predicts Palop.
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