Italy and Georgia's progression to the knockouts owes a lot to their men between the posts…
There’s no question that when it comes to top performing goalkeeper’s at Euro 2024 so far, the names of Giorgi Mamardashvili and Gianluigi Donnarumma are on everyone’s lips.
Not only have they been the standouts in their department, but they have been the stars of the knockouts stages of all players.
Their excellence was widely know pre-tournament. Donnarumma’s qualities, matched in immensity by his physical presence, have been there for all to see since his debut for AC Milan in 2015 as a 16 year old. And whilst less precocious, Mamardashvili has shone for La Liga side Valencia in recent seasons.
Not surprise packages, then, but in their contribution to their countries progression into the knockout stage they have been shockingly good.
For Donnarumma, of course, has been here before and owns the medal to prove it. An experienced head on colossal shoulders, with a reach that ensures one step in either direction is enough for him to cover the goal frame, particularly from distance as illustrated by his full length saves from Croatia’s Luka Sucic and Spain's Fabian Ruiz.
Yet it has been the feet his body towers over that have been just as pleasing to watch. For PSG, Donnarumma’s range of passing is limited by the way he’s required to build-up by Luis Enrique. They're mostly simple passes to defenders who are given space by opposing teams sitting off in a mid-block press. But whilst on duty for Spalletti’s Italy, Donnarumma has been given more of a chance to impress with the ball at his feet.
When pressed centrally, he’s shown great calm in shifting the ball slightly and find Nicolo Barella or Jorginho directly behind the line of pressure, but it’s his mid to long range distribution where he has really grown in confidence. These three group games have seen him switch balls first time, full back to full back and when given time he has shown great feel for the ball in dropping passes over the heads of wide players.
It’s his understanding with strikers Mateo Retegui and Gianluca Scamacca that has really impressed.
Most of his direct play is undertaken with a delicacy and an intention, giving the two strikers the best chance of retaining the ball with their chest or feet. And even when his delivery is slightly wayward, because of the lack of pace on the ball, defenders find it difficult to get good distance on their contact and offer an opportunity for the Italians to mop up second balls. The Croatia game was an especially good watch for this.
Whilst the weight of expectation is less burdensome for Georgia’s number one, Mamardashvili's all round performances have help lift his country into knockouts and create history.
Currently ranked 74th in the FIFA rankings, way below Portugal in third, Willy Sagnol’s side created the biggest upset in this European Championship tournament with their 2-0 win. Their subsequent qualification largely became a reality because of their goalkeeper’s last two performances.
Mamardashvili has looked so decisive, confident and composed to the point he is playing in a zone when situations seem to happen in slow motion for you.
Two indicators of his confidence have come in the amount of up and under balls that have arrived in his box, dealt with cleanly under pressure, and the excellent take from a straight ball to the edge of his box against Czechia.
As with strikers and goals though, it’s his shot stopping that has been the real eye-catcher. His handling of awkward efforts has been clean and when there has been movement on the ball or of a more difficult nature, his decisiveness and solidity in making sure the ball is well clear of danger has been similarly skilled.
His handling of troublesome shots from distance has even drawn praise from the notoriously hard to please and hard of understanding former outfield co-commentators.
What they probably don’t see is that his technique of crouching super-low behind the ball to catch with his hands, rather than allowing it to come into his midriff makes his clean handling more impressive.
The free-flowing form of Spain awaits Marmadashvili and Georgia next in the round of 16. The Georgians know that whilst their chances of overcoming their Spanish counterparts may be slim, they at least know they have a man in the goalmouth who gives them any chance at all.
