Spain national football team

Spain national football team
The Spain national football team has represented Spain in men's international football competitions since 1920. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.
Spain is one of eight national teams to have been crowned world champions and have participated in a total of 16 of 22 FIFA World Cups, also qualifying consistently since 1978. Spain have won three continental titles during their appearances of 11 out of 16 UEFA European Championships. Spain currently competes in League A of the UEFA Nations League alongside the other top teams of Europe. Their best result was in the 2022–23 season where they reached the final, winning against Croatia.
Spain's achievements from 2008–2012 have led many experts and commentators to consider this era's Spain squads one of the best ever teams in football history. During this period, Spain became the only national team to win three consecutive major titles, including two back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012, while becoming the first European team to win a World Cup held outside of Europe in 2010. From 2008 to 2013, Spain won the FIFA Team of the Year, the second-most of any nation, behind only Brazil. From the start of 2007 to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, Spain achieved 35 consecutive undefeated matches, a feat which they shared with Brazil, and a sport record at the time. Spain along with France are the only two European countries to have won the triplete (World Cup, Euro, Nations League).
Spain is one of only two nations to have won both the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup (the other being Germany).
History
Spain has been a member of FIFA since its founding in 1904, even though the Spanish Football Federation was first established in 1909. The first Spain national football team was constituted in 1920, with the main objective of finding a team that would represent Spain at the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Belgium in that same year. Spain made their debut at the tournament on 28 August 1920 against Denmark, silver medalists at the last two Olympic tournaments. Spain managed to win that match by a scoreline of 1–0, eventually finishing with the silver medal. Spain qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in 1934, defeating Brazil in their first game and losing in a replay to the hosts and eventual champions Italy in the quarter-finals. The Spanish Civil War and World War II prevented Spain from playing any competitive matches between the 1934 World Cup and the 1950 edition's qualifiers. At the 1950 finals in Brazil, they topped their group to progress to the finals round, then finished in fourth place. Until 2010, this had been Spain's highest finish in a FIFA World Cup finals.
Spain won its first major international title when it hosted the 1964 European Nations' Cup held in Spain, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1 in the finals at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The victory would stand as Spain's lone major title for 44 years. Spain was selected as host of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, reaching the second round and four years later they reached the quarter-finals before a penalty shootout defeat to Belgium. Also at UEFA Euro 1984, they lost the final against France. Spain reached the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup. The match became controversial when Italian defender Mauro Tassotti struck Luis Enrique with his elbow inside Spain's penalty area, causing Luis Enrique to bleed profusely from his nose and mouth, but the foul was not noticed nor sanctioned by referee Sándor Puhl. Had the official acknowledged the foul, Spain would have merited a penalty kick. In the 2002 World Cup, Spain won its three group play matches, then defeated the Republic of Ireland on penalties in the second round. They faced co-hosts South Korea in the quarter-finals, losing in a shootout after having two goals controversially called back for alleged infractions during regular and extra time.
At UEFA Euro 2008, Spain won all their games in Group D. Italy were the opponents in the quarter-finals match, which Spain won 4–2 on penalties. They then met Russia again in the semi-finals, beating them 3–0. In the final, Spain defeated Germany 1–0, with Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game. This was Spain's first major title since the 1964 European Championship. Xavi was awarded the player of the tournament. The following year the side finished third at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup breaking their 35-match unbeaten streak that began in November 2006 after a loss to the United States. In the 2010 World Cup, Spain advanced to the final for the first time ever by defeating Germany 1–0. In the decisive match against the Netherlands, Andrés Iniesta scored the match's only goal, coming in extra time. Spain became the third team to win a World Cup outside their own continent, and the first European team to do so. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas won the golden glove for only conceding two goals during the tournament, while David Villa won the bronze ball and silver boot, tied for top scorer of the tournament. Spain qualified top of Group I in qualification for UEFA Euro 2012 with a perfect 100% record. They became the first team to retain the European Championship, winning the final 4–0 against Italy, while Fernando Torres won the Golden Boot for top scorer of the tournament.
Spain advanced to the final of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, losing to hosts Brazil, and the following year they were eliminated from the group stage of the 2014 World Cup. At Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the side reached the last 16 in both tournaments, losing to Italy 2–0 and Russia 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. In the UEFA Euro 2020, held in 2021 after COVID-19 pandemic caused delays, Spain made a breakthrough, reaching the last four of a major tournament for the first time since 2012, before losing to eventual champions Italy 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The team finished the tournament with two wins and four draws (including two penalty shootouts). The same year they managed to reach the 2021 UEFA Nations League Final, losing against France. In the 2022 World Cup, Spain finished second in their group, then in the round of 16, they lost to Morocco 3–0 on penalties after a 0–0 draw, to be the third consecutive elimination from a major tournament in penalty shootouts.
Team image
Nicknames
Spain's team is commonly known by fans as "La Furia Roja", meaning the Red Fury in Spanish. recalling the "Sack of Antwerp" – an episode in the military history of Spain. However, there are another unofficial nicknames to refer to the national team of Spain.
The other most common nickname, known by fans, is "Los Toros" (Fighting Bulls), since Spanish Fighting Bull is one of Spain's famous national treasures and often used to define Spanish culture, and also often depicted by Spanish supporters alike. The Spain football team is sometimes referred as the Bulls due to this cultural heritage.
The Spanish team also received other nicknames, mostly "Toreros" or "Matador" (Bullfighters in Spanish), to describe its passionate and romantic style of football playing.
Style of play
Between 2008 and 2012, the team played a style of football dubbed 'tiki-taka', a systems approach to football founded upon the ideal of team unity and a comprehensive understanding in the geometry of space on a football field.
Tiki-taka has been variously described as "a style of play based on making your way to the back of the net through short passing and movement", a "short passing style in which the ball is worked carefully through various channels", and a "nonsensical phrase that has come to mean short passing, patience and possession above all else". The style involves roaming movement and positional interchange amongst midfielders, moving the ball in intricate patterns, and sharp, one or two-touch passing. Tiki-taka is "both defensive and offensive in equal measure" – the team is always in possession, so doesn't need to switch between defending and attacking. Commentators have contrasted tiki-taka with "Route One physicality" and with the higher-tempo passing of Barcelona and Arsène Wenger's 2007–08 Arsenal side, which employed Cesc Fàbregas as the only channel between defence and attack. Tiki-taka is associated with flair, creativity, and touch, but can also be taken to a "slow, directionless extreme" that sacrifices effectiveness for aesthetics.
Tiki-taka was successfully employed by Spain to win Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. The 2008–12 teams are regarded as being among the greatest of international teams in football history.
Sid Lowe identifies Luis Aragonés' tempering of tiki-taka with pragmatism as a key factor in Spain's success in Euro 2008. Aragonés used tiki-taka to "protect a defense that appeared suspect [...], maintain possession and dominate games" without taking the style to "evangelical extremes". None of Spain's first six goals in the tournament came from tiki-taka: five came from direct breaks and one from a set play. For Lowe, Spain's success in the 2010 World Cup was evidence of the meeting of two traditions in Spanish football: the "powerful, aggressive, direct" style that earned the silver medal-winning 1920 Antwerp Olympic team the nickname La Furia Roja ("The Red Fury") and the tiki-taka style of the contemporary Spain's team, which focused on a collective, short-passing, technical and possession-based game.
Analyzing Spain's semi-final victory over Germany at the 2010 World Cup, Raphael Honigstein described Spain's tiki-taka style as "the most difficult version of football possible: an uncompromising passing game, coupled with intense, high pressing". For Honigstein, tiki-taka is "a significant upgrade" of the Netherlands' Total Football because it relies on ball movement rather than players switching position. Tiki-taka allowed Spain to "control both the ball and the opponent".
Kits and crest
Spain's kit is traditionally a red jersey with yellow trim, dark blue shorts and black socks, whilst their current away kit is all predominantly white. The colour of the socks altered throughout the 1990s from black to the same blue colour as the shorts, matching either the blue of the shorts or the red of the shirt until the mid-2010s when they returned to their traditional black. Spain's kits have been produced by manufacturers including Adidas (from 1981 until 1983), Le Coq Sportif (from 1983 until 1991) and Adidas once again (since 1991). Rather than displaying the logo of the Spanish football federation, Spain's jersey traditionally features the country's coat of arms over the left side. After winning the 2010 World Cup, the World Cup winners badge was added to the right side of the jersey and a golden star at the top of Spain's coat of arms.
Kit suppliers
Home stadium
Spain does not have a designated national stadium. The capital city of Madrid (Bernabéu and Metropolitano), Seville (Pizjuán, La Cartuja and Villamarín), Valencia (Mestalla and Orriols) and Barcelona (Camp Nou and Montjuïc), are the four Spanish cities that have hosted more than 15 national team matches, while also being home to the largest stadiums in the country.
Other friendly matches, as well as qualifying fixtures against smaller opponents, are played in provincial stadia. The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign included matches at the Reino de León in León, Los Cármenes in Granada, El Molinón in Gijón, and the Rico Pérez in Alicante.
Media coverage
Spain's UEFA European Qualifiers and UEFA Nations League matches, and all friendly games from 2018 until 2022, will be televised nationwide by La 1, flagship television channel of the public broadcaster TVE.
Rivalries
Spain has four main rivalries with other top footballing nations.
Their rivalry with Italy, sometimes referred to as the Mediterranean Derby, contested since 1920. Although the two nations are not immediate geographical neighbours, their rivalry at international level is enhanced by the strong performances of the representative clubs in UEFA competitions, in which they are among the leading associations and have each enjoyed spells of dominance. Since the quarter-finals match between the two countries at Euro 2008, the rivalry has renewed, with its most notable match between the two sides being in the UEFA Euro 2012 Final, which Spain won 4–0.
Their rivalry with Portugal, also known as the Iberian Derby, is one of the oldest football rivalries at a national level. It began on 18 December 1921, when Portugal lost 3–1 to Spain at Madrid in their first ever international friendly game. Portugal lost their first matches, with their first draw (2–2) only coming in 1926. Portugal's first win came much later (4–1) in 1947. Both belong to the strongest football nations of the world, and have met a total of 39 times (of which 9 matches were competitive) which resulted in 16 victories for Spain, 17 draws and 6 victories for Portugal.
Their rivalry with France, also another major football force, is also one of the oldest at a national level. Spain and France have met a total of 36 times, began with a 4–0 triumph for Spain in a friendly in Bordeaux on 30 April 1922, though their first competitive meeting came in the UEFA Euro 1984 Final, which France won to take over its first major international honours. Spain has the advantage in head-to-head competition with 16 wins, 13 losses and 7 draws, though France has gotten more international glories than Spain.
Their rivalry with Germany, is also one of the oldest at a national level. Germany and Spain have faced each other 26 times, started with a 2–1 friendly victory for Spain on 12 May 1935 in Cologne. However, Spain only met Germany for the first time in any competitive fixture in 1966, as part of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, where Germany (known as West Germany at the time) came back to win 2–1. However, since the unification of Germany in 1991, Spain has remained undefeated in competitive fixtures against Germany, including the famous 6–0 rout in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A. Total head-to-head result however is slightly favourable for Germany with 9 wins, 9 draws compared to 8 wins by Spain.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
2022
2023
2024
Coaching staff
Players
Current squad
The following 23 players were named in the squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group A matches against Scotland and Norway on 12 October 2023 and 15 October 2023, respectively.
Caps and goals updated as of 15 October 2023, after the match against Norway.
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up for the team in the last twelve months.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injuryPRE Preliminary squad / standby
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue
RET Player retired from the national team
SUS Player is serving suspension
Previous squads
World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup squad
1950 FIFA World Cup squad
1962 FIFA World Cup squad
1966 FIFA World Cup squad
1978 FIFA World Cup squad
1982 FIFA World Cup squad
1986 FIFA World Cup squad
1990 FIFA World Cup squad
1994 FIFA World Cup squad
1998 FIFA World Cup squad
2002 FIFA World Cup squad
2006 FIFA World Cup squad
2010 FIFA World Cup squad
2014 FIFA World Cup squad
2018 FIFA World Cup squad
2022 FIFA World Cup squad
European Championship
UEFA Euro 1964 squad
UEFA Euro 1980 squad
UEFA Euro 1984 squad
UEFA Euro 1988 squad
UEFA Euro 1996 squad
UEFA Euro 2000 squad
UEFA Euro 2004 squad
UEFA Euro 2008 squad
UEFA Euro 2012 squad
UEFA Euro 2016 squad
UEFA Euro 2020 squad
UEFA Nations League Finals
2021 UEFA Nations League Finals squad
2023 UEFA Nations League Finals squad
Confederations Cup
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup squad
2013 FIFA Confederations Cup squad
Olympic Games
1920 Olympic Games squad
1924 Olympic Games squad
1928 Olympic Games squad
Individual records
Player records
Sergio Ramos holds the record for most appearances for the Spain's team with 180. In second place is Iker Casillas with 167, followed by Sergio Busquets with 143.
David Villa holds the title of Spain's highest goalscorer, scoring 59 goals from 2005 to 2017, during which time he played for Spain on 98 occasions. Raúl González is the second highest goalscorer, scoring 44 goals in 102 appearances between 1996 and 2006.
Most capped players
Below is a list of the ten players with the most caps for Spain, .
Players in bold are still active with Spain.
Youngest capped player
Lamine Yamal (16 years and 57 days) vs. , 8 September 2023
Oldest capped player
Jesús Navas (37 years and 325 days) vs. , 12 October 2023
Top goalscorers
Below is a list of the top ten goalscorers for Spain, .
Youngest goalscorer
Lamine Yamal (16 years and 57 days) vs. , 8 September 2023
Oldest goalscorer
Aritz Aduriz (35 years and 274 days) vs. , 12 November 2016
Most goals scored in a single match
Chacho (6 goals) vs. , 13 May 1933
First goal scored
Juan Arzuaga vs. , 25 May 1913 (unofficial game)
Patricio Arabolaza vs. , 28 August 1920 (official game)
Captains
List of Spain's captains in majors tournaments.
Mariano Arrate (3 caps as captain) was captain during Summer Olympics 1920.
Pedro Vallana (5) was captain during Summer Olympics 1924 and Summer Olympics 1928.
Ricardo Zamora (24) was captain during World Cup 1934.
Ignacio Eizaguirre (4) was captain during World Cup 1950.
Joan Segarra (15) was captain during World Cup 1962.
Ferran Olivella (10) was captain during European Nations Cup 1964.
Francisco Gento (15) was captain during World Cup 1966.
Pirri (18) was captain during World Cup 1978.
Juan Manuel Asensi (14) was captain during Euro 1980.
Luis Arconada (48) was captain during World Cup 1982 and Euro 1984.
José Antonio Camacho (24) was captain during World Cup 1986 and Euro 1988.
Emilio Butragueño (31) was captain during World Cup 1990.
Andoni Zubizarreta (50) was captain during World Cup 1994, Euro 1996 and World Cup 1998.
Fernando Hierro (32) was captain during Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002.
Raúl (42) was captain during Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.
Iker Casillas (104) was captain during Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012, World Cup 2014 and Euro 2016.
Sergio Ramos (54) was captain during World Cup 2018.
Sergio Busquets (20) was captain during Euro 2020, Nations League 2021 and World Cup 2022.
Jordi Alba (2) was captain during Nations League 2023.
Manager records
Most manager appearances
Vicente del Bosque: 114
Team records
Most consecutive wins (including friendlies): 15 (2008–2009)
Most consecutive wins achieved by an international coach from debut: 13 – Vicente del Bosque
Most penalty shoot-outs in one World Cup by one team: 2 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup (shared with at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, and at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup)
Highest maximum number of points in World Cup qualification: 30 out of 30 (2010) (shared with for 2018)
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
Although often entering tournaments as one of the favorites, Spain have often underachieved at the World Cup. Spain's first World Cup was in 1934. At that World Cup, Spain started their campaign by defeating Brazil 3–1 to advance to the quarter-finals, where they lost to hosts Italy. Before Spain's success in 2010, their best result came in 1950, where they reached the last four. Spain were paired with the hosts Brazil, as well as Uruguay and Sweden. Spain managed a draw against Uruguay but defeats from Brazil and Sweden meant that Spain would end up in fourth place. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, Spain became world champions for the first time after defeating the Netherlands 1–0 in the final, becoming the eight country to win the World Cup and the first European team to lift the trophy outside of their continent.
Champions Runners-up Third place Tournament played fully or partially on home soil
UEFA European Championship
Spain have won the joint most UEFA European Championships, along with Germany (3 titles). La Roja are the only nation to date to have won consecutive championships. They have hosted the tournament once, in 1964 (one city was used to host games at Euro 2020) and have appeared in a total of 11 tournaments.
The team won their first international trophy on home soil in 1964, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1. Spain would reach the final twenty years later in 1984, where they would lose the final to France. Spain would not reach the final again until 2008, where they would defeat Germany 1–0. Four years later, Spain earned back-to-back titles, comprehensively defeating Italy 4–0 in the final in Kiev.
UEFA Nations League
Since the inaugural UEFA Nations League, La Roja have remained in League A and have reached the UEFA Nations League Finals on two occasions. At the 2021 Finals, Spain won their semi-final after defeating Italy 2–1 but lost to France in the final. In the following campaign, La Roja would again reach the final thanks to another win against Italy. Spain would then beat Croatia on penalties after a 0–0 draw.
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Spain made two appearances at the FIFA Confederations. Their first appearance came in 2009 when they won a third place medal. Spain had lost 2–0 to the United States in the semi-finals. At the next edition, Spain qualified as World champions. La Roja reached the final in Brazil, but lost 3–0 to the hosts.
Head-to-head record
All-time results
The following table shows Spain's all-time international record, correct as of 14 June 2021.
Honours
Source:
Major titles
FIFA World Cup
Champions (1): 2010
UEFA European Championship
Champions (3): 1964, 2008, 2012
Runners-up: 1984
Third place: 2020
UEFA Nations League
Champions (1): 2023
Runners-up: 2021
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runners-up: 2013
Third place: 2009
Olympic Games
Gold medal (1): 1992
Silver medal: 1920
Awards
FIFA Fair Play Trophy
Winners: 2006, 2010, 2013, 2018
FIFA Team of the Year
Winners: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Prince of Asturias Award for Sports
Winners: 2010
Laureus World Team of the Year
Winners: 2011
See also
Spain national under-23 football team (Olympic football team)
Spain national under-21 football team
Spain national under-20 football team
Spain national under-19 football team
Spain national under-18 football team
Spain national under-17 football team
Spain national under-16 football team
Spain national under-15 football team
Spain women's national football team
Spain women's national under-23 football team
Spain women's national under-20 football team
Spain women's national under-19 football team
Spain women's national under-17 football team
La Liga
Football in Spain
Sport in Spain
Notes
References
External links
by RFEF
Spain at FIFA
Spain at UEFA
Spain national football team
European national association football teams
UEFA European Championship-winning countries
FIFA World Cup-winning countries
UEFA Nations League-winning countries
Laureus World Sports Awards winners