The Blues face La Roja in the semi-finals of the European Championship on Tuesday evening (9pm).
Three victories at the European Championship…
Since the launch of the European Championship in 1960, Spain has won the continental trophy three times. First, from the second edition, in 1964, by beating the terrible Soviet Union (2-1), defending champions, in the final. Much more recently, with success in 2008, against the solid Germany of Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose (0-1); and again, in 2012, against the brave but insufficient Italy of Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli, who were defeated 4-0 in the final. Only the “Nationalmannschaft” has done as well as the “Roja”, with three European crowns (1972 and 1980 as West Germany, and 1996). This year, Luis de la Fuente and his men have the chance to be the first team to win the European Championship for the fourth time. Extra motivation, for sure.
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…And the only selection that did the double
And that’s not all. Spain is the only team to have won two European Championships in a row: in 2008 and 2012. In 2010, they also registered their name on the World Cup list. Three coronations in three international competitions. An authentic feat that they were able to achieve thanks to a golden generation. During this prosperous period, La Roja could count on one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Iker Casillas, defenders as robust as they were cunning and experienced in Carlos Puyol, Sergio Ramos and Gérard Piqué, and (above all?), two of the greatest midfielders in football history in Xavi Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta; not to mention Xabi Alonso and attacking players David Silva and Fernando Torres. Even if it (probably) has less talent, it can still count on the excellent Rodri and the dynamic Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo in 2024, who are capable of making the difference at any moment. Will it be enough to lift the trophy?
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A favorable record against the Blues
In its history, Spain has faced the French team thirty-six times, mainly in friendlies. And the “Roja” has a (somewhat) favorable record, having won sixteen times, compared to thirteen for the Blues (and seven draws). Among the notable matches between the two teams, we can mention the final of Euro 1984, won by Michel Platini and his teammates (2-0), the quarter-final of Euro 2000, won by Zinédine Zidane and his partners (1-2), the round of 16 of the 2006 World Cup in which “Zizou”, Patrick Vieira and Franck Ribéry allowed France to reverse the trend (1-3) or the quarter-final of the 2012 European Championship, easily dominated by the Spanish (2-0). It just goes to show that Spain is doing (fairly) well against France in major competitions. Will this still be the case on Tuesday night?
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Two French players in his team
Within the current Spanish team, two players could have played for the Blues. They are Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand. Born in Agen (Lot-et-Garonne) and (partly) trained at the Athletic Club, the former made several selections in the French youth teams due to his Basque origins. Didier Deschamps called him up three times with the “A”, but he did not play a single minute, neither by a decision of the French coach nor due to an injury (2019). In May 2021, shortly after becoming a Spanish citizen, the Manchester City defender (who has since left for Saudi Arabia) was finally called up by Luis Enrique to play Euro 2020 with “Roja”. The second, born in Pabu (Côtes-d’Armor), joined Real Sociedad in 2016, with whom he multiplied his great performances and established himself (also) as one of the best central defenders in LaLiga. But faced with strong competition in this sector in the French team, he was never called up. A few days after obtaining Spanish nationality, he was called up by Spain in June 2023 to play in the final phase of the League of Nations. From now on, Aymeric Laporte and Robin Le Normand form the Spanish central axis.
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Many absent in the semi-finals
Robin Le Normand will not face the Blues on Tuesday night. The 27-year-old player is suspended after receiving a new warning against Germany in the quarter-finals (2-1). He will not be the only member of the “Roja” who will be unavailable, since Dani Carvajal, excluded against the “Nationalmannschaft”, will also be absent. As will Pedri, the playmaker of FC Barcelona, who was injured. Suffice it to say that Spain will be very weak against the French team.