The Spain manager Vicente del Bosque tried to play down the scale of his side’s 1-0 home defeat to Georgia.
The reigning European champions suffered the unexpected loss to a side ranked 137th in the world as they head into Euro 2016 but Del Bosque deflected criticism of his side’s performance.
“We shouldn’t be distressed over the outcome of today’s match,” Del Bosque said. “We must look forward and take on the challenge that is the European Championship.
“In the first half our players were overlapping too often. We accumulated too many bodies to start the offensive plays.”
When asked about the striker Álvaro Morata, who was left on the bench because of discomfort in his thigh, Del Bosque said: “We preferred not to play him so he’s in top form for the Euro 2016 opener [against the Czech Republic].”
Spain, who also face Croatia and Turkey in the group stage in France, almost opened the scoring when Thiago Alcântara’s first-half shot cannoned off the post.
But three minutes later Georgia broke the deadlock as an error from the usually dependable Sergio Ramos allowed Jambul Jigauri time to pick out Tornike Okriashvili, who slotted home.
Andrés Iniesta went close in the second half as Spain pushed for an equaliser but Georgia held firm to seal a momentous win.
Spain: De Gea; Juanfran (Bellerin 46), Piqué, Ramos (San Jose 46), Jordi Alba; Busquets (Pedro 76); Lucas Vázquez (Silva 63), Fàbregas (Iniesta 46), Thiago (Koke 46), Nolito; Aduriz Subs not used: Casillas, Sergio Rico, Bartra, Azpilicueta, Bruno, Morata
Georgia: Revishvili (Kvaskhvadze 55); Lobzhanidze, Kverkvelia, Kashia, Amisulashvili, Abujarnia (Tsiskaridze 78), Qazaishvili (Chanturia 72), Dvalishvili (Kvilitaia 72), Okriashvili, Jigauri, Navalovskii (Kobakhidze 84) Subs not used:Makaridze, Kenia, Kvekveskiri, Dvali, Kakabadze, Chanturishvili
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