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 appearing in the mixed zone, Giorgi Mamardashvili (23 years old), the best goalkeeper of this Euro Cup at the moment, seems abstracted contemplating the cult objects scattered on the table. A dozen Spanish journalists and several Georgian journalists are waiting for him. Some of the latter still had accommodation problems because their reservations ended at the end of the first phase. Mamardashvili’s saves have extended the Georgians’ stay until the round of 16, where Spain awaits. “It is the sensation of the Euro Cup, it is very complete, it is dominating between the sticks, one against one and the use of the natural hand or the changed one, like in a save that took a shot that was going into the top corner,” asserts the former goalkeeper. international Andrés Palop, now dedicated to observing goalkeepers throughout Europe to detect young talents.
With a withdrawn character and not fluent in Spanish despite his three years at Valencia, Mamardashvili allowed himself to joke around with the Spanish press on Friday. “Kvaratskhelia is better than the whole of Spain,” he proclaimed before breaking into an infectious laugh. More seriously, he warned: “For me, Spain is the big favourite 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.”
Tournament statistics show that Mamardashvili has conceded four goals, but he is the goalkeeper who has made the most saves (21) and the one who has faced the most shots on goal. Despite this last figure, only three goalkeepers who have played in all three group stage matches have a better save percentage than Mamardashvili (84%): Jordan Pickford (England, 88.9%), Mike Maignan (France, 90%) and Koen Casteels (Belgium, 91.7%). “It is not easy,” he said of the general feeling that he is the great goalkeeper of this Euro, “but I am ready for this. I wanted to play at this level all year and I will continue to do so. I have been working with Ochotorena (Valencia’s goalkeeping coach) for three years and being with him is a pleasure for me.”
Analysts point to him as the best young goalkeeper in Europe. “He is in the best position to say yes, but there are young goalkeepers who are also pushing hard. Verbruggen (Brighton), Carnesechi (Atalanta), Chevallier (Lille), Trubin (Benfica), but right now I would say that Mamardashvili is ahead of all of them,” adds Palop.
The match plan he expects 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 there 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 conveys the feeling that to score a goal it has to be with very strong shots or very close shots to the posts or the corners,” predicts Palop.
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