Spain have been one of the most successful sides in the European Championship’s recent history. Having won the competition back-to-back in 2008 and 2012, they were stopped in their tracks by Antonio Conte’s Italy at the round-of-16 stage back in 2016. Five years on, and we are witnessing new dawn in Spanish football. Since then, La Furia Roja have undergone a huge change in managerial and playing staff, with Luis Enrique now in charge of a new-look senior side.
The former Barcelona player and coach controversially decided not to select a single Real Madrid star in his squad for Euro 2020, including key centre-back and captain Sergio Ramos, who has struggled with injury for a number of months. In fact, Enrique has opted not to make use of the extended 26-man squad option, picking only 24 players for the summer tournament – a decision that has raised some eyebrows.
If this Spain side was in the midst of a transitional period during the Euro 2020 qualifying group stages, they certainly didn’t show it. La Furia Roja topped Group F with relative ease, winning eight and drawing two of their 10 matches. Spain have been drawn against Poland, Slovakia and Sweden in Group E, so expectations will be high to finish top of the group, despite the widely-considered dip in quality of stars.
Spain have participated in ten UEFA European Football Championships, from which they won three titles. Spain became European champions at home in 1964, Austria/Switzerland in 2008, and Poland/Ukraine in 2012. Their first international success came way back in 1964 at the European Championship, then known as the Nations Cup, playing as hosts to what was only the second staging of the competition.
As Spaniards revelled in the glory of a final victory over the Soviet Union at a jam-packed Bernabeu with almost 80,000 fans, little did they know it would be another 44 years before they would taste success again. Spanish midfielder Luis Suarez was a part of that victorious team and, having helped Inter Milan to back-to-back European Cup success prior to the competition, he brought vital experience to a young Spanish side. Euro 1964 was a tournament in which political tensions had an impact. Greece were drawn with Albania for a qualifying tie but, with the two countries at war, pulled out. Those that did enter played home and away qualifying ties, leaving the last four teams to travel to Spain for the finals.
Political tensions were high once again as Spain and the Soviet Union progressed to the final. Spain, under the rule of General Franco, had refused to travel to the Soviet Union for a quarter-final tie for Euro 1960. But were allowed to play this time around. Marcelino scored Spain’s winner in the final when he beat the great Lev Yashin late on with a stooping header. After 44 years, a Spain squad consisting of global superstars who played for the biggest clubs in the world took centre stage. Spain became European champions for the second time after Fernando Torres’s first-half goal in Vienna proved enough to defeat Germany in the final of 2008.
After waiting for 44 years for a European glory, Spain went on to win back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012. It was Spain’s golden generation with footballing talent that no other team could match. Spain made history in magical fashion as they outclassed Italy and claimed a successive European crown to add to their 2010 World Cup triumph. Vicente del Bosque’s side staged a compelling claim to be the greatest international side of all time as the Euro 2012 final was transformed into an exhibition with Italy passed brutally into submission.
Spain, perhaps stung by the words of criticism aimed in their direction, started with a pace and tempo of passing that the Italians found impossible to live with.
Recently, Captain Sergio Busquets was tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, meaning he will miss the initial part of the tournament, which will be a huge loss for the La Furia Roja. While question marks can be raised over the lack of an elite striker or the absence of key faces at the back, the Spain midfield is packed with talent.
And considering the nation’s love for keeping the ball and passing teams to death in the past, that can only be good news for supporters. Wide man Ferran Torres has lit up the international scene since being awarded his opportunity in the senior setup, and hopes are high for the Man City star to make a splash across Europe.
Marcos Llorente has been a standout performer for La Liga Champions Atletico Madrid this year, and his ability to play anywhere across the midfield or even at right-back makes him a useful utility man for Enrique. All eyes will be on Villareal forward Gerard Moreno, who has earned his crack at international football and will want to cement a spot in the forward line.
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Spain have been one of the most successful sides in the European Championship’s recent history. Having won the competition back-to-back in 2008 and 2012, they were stopped in their tracks by Antonio Conte’s Italy at the round-of-16 stage back in 2016. Five years on, and we are witnessing new dawn in Spanish football. Since then, La Furia Roja have undergone a huge change in managerial and playing staff, with Luis Enrique now in charge of a new-look senior side.
The former Barcelona player and coach controversially decided not to select a single Real Madrid star in his squad for Euro 2020, including key centre-back and captain Sergio Ramos, who has struggled with injury for a number of months. In fact, Enrique has opted not to make use of the extended 26-man squad option, picking only 24 players for the summer tournament – a decision that has raised some eyebrows.
If this Spain side was in the midst of a transitional period during the Euro 2020 qualifying group stages, they certainly didn’t show it. La Furia Roja topped Group F with relative ease, winning eight and drawing two of their 10 matches. Spain have been drawn against Poland, Slovakia and Sweden in Group E, so expectations will be high to finish top of the group, despite the widely-considered dip in quality of stars.
Spain have participated in ten UEFA European Football Championships, from which they won three titles. Spain became European champions at home in 1964, Austria/Switzerland in 2008, and Poland/Ukraine in 2012. Their first international success came way back in 1964 at the European Championship, then known as the Nations Cup, playing as hosts to what was only the second staging of the competition.
As Spaniards revelled in the glory of a final victory over the Soviet Union at a jam-packed Bernabeu with almost 80,000 fans, little did they know it would be another 44 years before they would taste success again. Spanish midfielder Luis Suarez was a part of that victorious team and, having helped Inter Milan to back-to-back European Cup success prior to the competition, he brought vital experience to a young Spanish side. Euro 1964 was a tournament in which political tensions had an impact. Greece were drawn with Albania for a qualifying tie but, with the two countries at war, pulled out. Those that did enter played home and away qualifying ties, leaving the last four teams to travel to Spain for the finals.
Political tensions were high once again as Spain and the Soviet Union progressed to the final. Spain, under the rule of General Franco, had refused to travel to the Soviet Union for a quarter-final tie for Euro 1960. But were allowed to play this time around. Marcelino scored Spain’s winner in the final when he beat the great Lev Yashin late on with a stooping header. After 44 years, a Spain squad consisting of global superstars who played for the biggest clubs in the world took centre stage. Spain became European champions for the second time after Fernando Torres’s first-half goal in Vienna proved enough to defeat Germany in the final of 2008.
After waiting for 44 years for a European glory, Spain went on to win back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012. It was Spain’s golden generation with footballing talent that no other team could match. Spain made history in magical fashion as they outclassed Italy and claimed a successive European crown to add to their 2010 World Cup triumph. Vicente del Bosque’s side staged a compelling claim to be the greatest international side of all time as the Euro 2012 final was transformed into an exhibition with Italy passed brutally into submission.
Spain, perhaps stung by the words of criticism aimed in their direction, started with a pace and tempo of passing that the Italians found impossible to live with.
Recently, Captain Sergio Busquets was tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, meaning he will miss the initial part of the tournament, which will be a huge loss for the La Furia Roja. While question marks can be raised over the lack of an elite striker or the absence of key faces at the back, the Spain midfield is packed with talent.
And considering the nation’s love for keeping the ball and passing teams to death in the past, that can only be good news for supporters. Wide man Ferran Torres has lit up the international scene since being awarded his opportunity in the senior setup, and hopes are high for the Man City star to make a splash across Europe.
Marcos Llorente has been a standout performer for La Liga Champions Atletico Madrid this year, and his ability to play anywhere across the midfield or even at right-back makes him a useful utility man for Enrique. All eyes will be on Villareal forward Gerard Moreno, who has earned his crack at international football and will want to cement a spot in the forward line.
