Leones play Lelos in Tblissi
Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:43
Georgia host Spain at the National Stadium in Tblissi on Saturday in a European Nations Cup, Division 1, match.
The competition is played over two seasons and Georgia are virtually certain of winning it .
At present they trail Russia by a single point but will get a point from this match even if Spain beat them, which is unlikely anyway even though Spain are the only team to have beaten the Lelos, winning 31-17 in Madrid in the first round. In fact the president of FIRA-AER is bringing the trophy to Tblissi for the occasion to crown the Lelos as the Champions. It is sure to be a big weekend as it is Easter in the Georgian Orthodox Church this weekend.
The log looks like this at present with matches played, match points and points' difference:
1 Russia 10; 26; 165
2 Georgia 9; 25; 176
3 Romania 10; 22; 133
4 Portugal 9; 15; -18
5 Spain 8; 14; -9
6 Czech Republic 10 10; -447
Spain, who still have Portugal to play, are safe from relegation as Czech Republic have had an unhappy two years. The Czechs will be relegated. Germany are most likely to take their place.
The Leones of Spain continue to introduce new players. Four of their squad are uncapped - González Marruecos, Jesús Recuerda, Martín Emir Heredia and Jesús Moreno who plays for Bayonne.
Of the Georgian squad only two play in Georgia – Irakli Chkhikvadze and Alexander Todua. There are 13 playing in France, three in Romania, two in Russia and one each in Ukraine and Andorra.
Georgian squad: David Dadunashvili, Iuri Natriashvili, David Kubriashvili, Shota Melikidze, Simon Maisuradze, George Nemsadze, Mamuka Gorgodze, Kakhaber Uchava, Rati Urushadze, George Chkhaidze, Dimitri Basilaia, Besarion Udesiani, Irakli Abuseridze, (c)Bidzina Samkharadze, Lasha Malaguradze, Merab Kvirikashvili, Revaz Gigauri, David Kacharava, Malkhaz Urjukashvili, Irakli Chkhikvadze, Alexander Todua, Otar Barkalaia
Spanish squad: José Maria Bohorquez, Juan González Marruecos, Manuel Mazo, Jesús Recuerda Núñez, Rafael Camacho, Leandro Fernández Aramburu, Iván Criado, Manuel Serrano, Sergio Souto, Víctor Marlet, Martín Emir Heredia, Jaime Nava, Juan Cano, Javier Canosa, Javier Salazar, César Sempere, Ignacio Martín, Jesús Moreno, Mathieu Gratton, Cyril Hijar, Juan Rafael Álvarez, Pablo Feijóo
Date: Saturday, 26 April 2008
Kick-off: 15.00 local time
Venue: National Stadium, Tblissi
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 26°C, dropping to 10°C and a bit of a breeze
Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italia)
Touch judges: Domenico Sironi
(Italia), Riccardo Bonaccorsi (Italia)
