Spain's love affair with the Euro Cup

Last update 24 October, 2023 por Alberto Llopis

The Spanish soccer team is one of the regular teams in the Euro Cup, which this year faces its number edition 17. It will be played in Germany during the months of June and July and without a doubt, La Roja starts as one of the big favorites.

With their recent victory against Scotland in Seville, Spain certified its mathematical classification for what will be its twelfth participation in the continental tournament. The Spanish team has been present consecutively in the last seven editions, eight if we count the next one in Germany. From england 1996 Spain has not missed any of the appointments. On that occasion the group then led by Javier Clemente finished in sixth place. In their ranks there were footballers who later moved to the benches, as Julen Guerrero, Abelardo or Luis Enrique and others who joined sports journalism, like Julio Salinas or Kiko. Even, footballers who later became sports directors of the RFEF, like Hierro and Molina.

Spain repeated its sixth position in the Euro Cup 2000 from Belgium and the Netherlands, which is remembered by many as the penalty missed by Raúl against France in the quarterfinals of the tournament. On that occasion the coach was José Antonio Camacho. The European Championship 2004 celebrated in Portugal, with Iñaki Sáez as coach, It was a fiasco for the interests of a team that did not make it past the group stage. But in 2008 things changed. Luis Aragonés went down in history for leading La Roja to the second title in history. It was in Austria and Switzerland. Spain had an almost immaculate tournament, winning all the games except the 0-0 in the quarterfinals against Italy, a clash that was decided on penalties. The final was against Germany, where a goal from Fernando Torres was enough to reign again.

At Euro 2012 from Poland and Ukraine Spain lifted the title for the second time in a row, this time with Vicente del Bosque as coach. The final was a walk for Spain, a demonstration of football and superiority like never before seen. Italy could do nothing to stop the Spanish cyclone. Al final, un 4-0 which clearly reflected the level of Spain at that time.

The Italian team took its particular revenge in the Euro Cup in France 2016, eliminating Spain in the quarterfinals, at Del Bosque's farewell from the bench. In the Euro 2020 (disputada en 2021 due to the Covid pandemic), Italy once again crossed the path of the Spanish. This time it was in the semifinals and in the penalty lottery.

Luis de La Fuente's Spain does not start as the main favorite in the next Euro Cup. According to a list of the main betting houses offered by the SosApuestas website, Spain occupies fourth place in the ranking of favorites, behind England, France and Germany. In addition to following the evolution of the maximum continental competition at the national team level, the possibility of see the most important competitions on SOSapuestas like the league, Premier League, A series, Champions o Europa League, club competitions of great interest that are being played at the moment.