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Spain’s biggest problem seems to stem, when playing tournament football, from translating qualifying form into the tournament. Nevertheless Spain have at least recorded a win at the European Championships, on home soil in 1964, the second hosting of the tournament. Spain enjoyed a golden period during the Eighties, finishing as runners-up in 1984 as well as qualifying for the 1980 and 1988 tournaments but further glory as always eluded them. The Spanish national team has always suffered from internal difficulties with the at times parochial nature of the football culture in the country so managing to select an entirely united XI has been at time an issue. This may partially explain Spain’s relative lack of success at the highest level. Spain failed to qualify for the 1960 European Championships but made up for that in spectacular fashion winning the next tournament 4 years later. In the early days of the tournament the rounds were played as home and away legs until the semi final stage when a one legged semi final decided the final participants, who also played a one off tie to decide the outcome. In the first round they brushed Romania aside, a 6-0 win in the first leg setting up a comfortable return match in Bucharest, which they lost 3-1. In the next round they were given a fright by Northern Ireland; held to a 1-1 draw in Spain only a goal from legendary forward Paco Gento in Belfast in the second leg saw the Spanish through. That set up a more straight forward clash against the Republic of Ireland in the quarter finals, which the Spanish cantered through winning 7-1 on aggregate. Spain was nominated as the host country and were drawn to meet Hungary in the semi finals, who were a fading force after their heyday of the Magic Magyars in the Fifties. After a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, Spain managed to scramble an extra time winner with just 5 minutes left to win 2-1. They repeated the score-line in the final to beat the USSR, the defending Champions. It would be another 26 years until Spain re-appeared at the tournament after it was extended in 1980 to 8 teams. The tournament was held in Italy but after making it through to the finals they failed miserably managing only 1 point in their 3 group matches finishing bottom of the group in the process. A 0-0 draw against Italy in Milan would be their only point as the tournament started promisingly. However, a 2-1 defeat to finalists Belgium followed leaving Spain needing a win to at least give them a chance of finishing second. However, a defeat followed; Trevor Brooking opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Although Spain equalised just after the break through a penalty, a Tony Woodcock goal on the hour mark sealed the defeat anchoring Spain to the bottom of the group. Spain were back in 1984 after their semi-final appearance at the 1982 World Cup hosted on home soil. The format of the tournament was tweaked slightly so that semi-finals were introduced for the two best placed teams in the group. Spain started with a slightly disappointing 1-1 draw against little fancied Romania, before going onto record the same score-line against local rivals Portugal. With all 4 teams still in with a chance of qualification, a last minute goal against Germany put Spain top of the group to ease them into the semis. Waiting for Spain there was a youthful Denmark side, who had qualified as runners-up from the other group. Soren Lerby got the Danes off to a flying start, but Spain hit back through Maceda, who had got the crucial goal against Germany, and the match went to penalties. After Spain had scored all of their 5 penalties, Denmark’s 5th penalty taker, Preben Elkjaer lost his nerve and missed to send Spain into the final against hosts France. The French weren’t to be denied a win on home soil though, brushing Spain aside thanks to goals from tournament top scorer Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone. The 1988 tournament in Germany was less of a success as Spain failed to make the semi finals finishing third. As in 1980 the tournament started optimistically with a 3-2 over Denmark thanks to goals from Michel, Butragueno and Gordillo. Spain couldn’t maintain their momentum and they slumped to a 1-0- defeat in their second match, after Gianluca Vialli hit the only goal of the game in the second half. Spain were no match for hosts Germany in the final group game, going down to goals either side of half-time to Rudi Voeller to leave them on third and out of the tournament. Spain failed to make Euro 1992, but after the tournament was extended to 16 teams were back for Euro 1996. They qualified from Group C behind France after a win and 2 draws. A 1-1 draw against Bulgaria, World Cup semi finalists from two years previously, got them off to a solid start. Former Real Betis forward Alfonso replying to Hristo Stoichkov’s opener from the penalty spot. Spain came from behind again four days later to hold France to a 1-1 draw, Caminero cancelling out a Youri Djorkaeff goal. They met Romania in their final group game, who were already out after two consecutive losses, and managed a 2-1 win, goals from Manjarin and Amor enough to see Spain through, after Bulgaria lost to France. In the quarter final stage they met hosts England and after a tense match in which both sides had chances but failed to take them, the tie went to penalties. Well known in England as the shoot-out that relieved Stuart Pearce’s ghost after his penalty miss some 6 years earlier, when he scored the third penalty, it is viewed in Spain as a missed opportunity after misses from Nadal and Hierro in the shoot out. Spain failed to make it past the quarter finals 4 years later at Euro 2000 after falling to France. In contrast to previous tournaments Spain started with a defeat at the Group Stage against Norway. Steffen Iversen, the former Spurs and Wolverhampton striker got the only goal of the game. Spain bounced back against Slovenia with Raul getting an early opener. Zlatko Zahovic threatened to get Slovenia back into the game but Exteberria, the Athletic Bilbao winger, hit back immediately to seal a 2-1 win. Needing a win in their final game Spain scraped through against Yugoslavia thanks to a last minute goal to scramble a 4-3 win. Three times Yugoslavia took the lead through Milosevic, Govedarica and Komljenovic with Alfonso and Munitis hitting back for Spain to make it 2-3. Faced with exit, a 90th minute penalty from Mendieta made it 3-3, before Alfonso with his second of the game made it 4-3 for Spain to see them through at Norway’s expense. In the quarter finals in a thrilling match France just edged Spain 2-1. Zidane put France in the lead but a second Mendieta penalty of the tournament made it 1-1. With just a minute to go until half time Djorkaeff hit the winner and despite pressing for a second goal Spain couldn’t break French resistance. Euro 2004 was less of a success as they failed to make it past the group stage after surprise packages Greece sneaked through ahead of them. Hopes had been high after Spain had struggled to qualify for the tournament that perhaps for once they’d reverse the trend and win the tournament after making heavy weather of qualification. Spain started with a win against Russia, Juan Carlos Valeron getting the solitary goal of the game. Despite opening the scoring against Greece through Morientes, the resilient Greeks pulled level thanks to Charisteas, top scorer in the tournament. Left needing a win or a draw against their rivals and tournament hosts Portugal, Spain failed, going down to a 1-0 defeat, leaving them in third, level on points with Greece but going out on goals scored after they managed only 2 to Greece’s 4. Spain’s history at the European Championships has so often been a case of what if and maybe. They’ve been regular features at the tournament since it’s expansion to 8 teams missing out only once in the last 8. Could this finally be the tournament for Spain to translate their obvious abilities into a second European Championship win? Posted by James on Tuesday, 13th May 2008 (Average rating 0 from 0 votes. Vote) (0 Comments) |