Euro 2024: Mamardashvili's blossoming reputation set to ignite summer bidding war

Tournament debutants will often be one of the more entertaining sides to watch. They throw caution to the wind whereas more experienced heads do the bare minimum to make it to the knockouts before they get going. Georgia are very much enjoying their first ever major international tournament. 

Progression to Euro 2024 was cause enough for celebration. That the Crusaders have made it to the last-16, defeating powerhouse side Portugal en-route to the knockouts, is impressive to say the least. There is top-flight European experience in the squad, with Napoli's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia the household name, while the tournament's top scorer - Georges Mikautadze - did enough to secure a permanent move to Ajax last year. 

Between the sticks, Giorgi Mamardashvili has carried his superb league form into Euro 2024. Even before the tournament kicked off earlier this month, the 23-year-old had high profile suitors. Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle have all been credited with an interest in the Valencia shotstopper in the past. As Georgia secured their place in the round-of-16, the youngster's performances will have certainly seen his stock rise. 

While caution must be applied when pursuing any player who shines for an international tournament - a small sample size can often inflate an asking price and lead to teams overspending on duds - Mamardashvili isn't a flash-in-the-pan shotstopper. Valencia ultimately finished last season in ninth, and had one of the better defensive records to boot. 

They conceded the seventh fewest goals (45) in La Liga last season, with Mamardashvili ranking sixth for saves (106) and keeping the joint-fourth most clean sheets (13), this despite Valencia averaging the third lowest possession return (43.6%), which meant they'd be under pressure more often than not. It's a similar story to Georgia at Euro 2024. Willy Sagnol's side have the third lowerst possession average (36.4%) in Germany and are conceding more shots per game (23.7) than any other team. 

Yet just as he is for club, Mamardashvili is prepared for every effort thrown his way for country, his save to deny Diogo Dalot early in the second half against Portugal on Wednesday night a case in point. That was one of 21 saves Mamardashvili has managed at Euro 2024, at least eight more than any other goalkeeper, to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 7.75, that enough to make the team of the group stage. 

This, though, won't come as a surprise to Valencia fans who have watched the Georgian shotstopper make nigh-on impossible save on a weekly basis in recent seasons. Much of that is down to Mamardashvili's reach, helped by his 6ft 5in frame. His standing also means that Mamardashvili is able to command his penalty box with ease, clearing opponents out of the way to claim high balls into the box, noted in that he made 37 high ball claims in La Liga last season; only Conan Ledesma (44) made more. 

This quality to his game has again been evident for Georgia at the Euros with Mamardashvili ranking top for high ball claims (9) at the tournament, an important trait for a Crusaders outfit that sees so little of ball. It's crucial in that it takes the pressure off the Georgia backline and allows for Sagnol's team to hit opponents on the counter. 

Yet even when taking into account Mamardashvili's shotstopping excellence, the concerns surrounding his distribution are justified. In the modern game, goalkeepers are expected to operate as an additional outfield outlet and be comfortable with the ball at their feet and able to pick out a teammate with relative ease. The Georgia number one struggles with this side to his game. 

A 38.5% pass success rate is the lowest at Euro 2024, while a 46.9% accuracy for Valencia was lower than any other player in La Liga last season. This is part of the reason why none of Europe's elite sides have firmed up their interest in Mamardashvili. Maybe his performances at Euro 2024 will change minds but it's a shortcoming that does need to be worked on. At his age, though, there is time for Mamardashvili's ability to find a teammate with greater consistency to improve, and in a more dominant side; the success rate would naturally increase over time. 

Teams that were pondering whether to move for Mamardashvili this summer will have been suitably impressed with what they have seen in Germany. Next up is a meeting with familiar opposition in the form of Spain as Georgia look to prolong their Euro 2024 campaign and with the fearlessness that comes from their debut international tournament; La Roja need to be at the their best if they are to make it beyond the last-16.