Spain’s soccer team has won the UEFA European Championship four times, a record number. Alongside Germany, they have dominated European soccer. Spain’s triumphs in the UEFA European Championship date back to the earlier Euros, and today, they remain the best team in Europe. These are a few of Spain’s greatest games in the UEFA European Championships.
Spain hosted the 1964 European Championship, and it was at the Bernabeu that they lifted their first trophy. Having defeated Hungary in the semi-finals, they came up against the USSR in the final. In the first 10 minutes of the game, Spain opened the scoring, but the USSR quickly equalized just a few minutes later. The scoreline remained 1-1 until Jesús María Pereda crossed for Marcelino Martínez, whose swooping header put the ball in the back of the Soviet Union’s net with less than 10 minutes to play. As the match ended 2-1, they lifted the trophy for the first time in Madrid.
This game, played at Euro 2000, was not a semi-final or final but was a vital group game for both teams. It was one of the most thrilling matches ever played at the Euros! Yugoslavia went a goal up with a headed goal into the back of Spain’s net, but shortly after, Spain leveled the score.
Early in the second half, Yugoslavia restored their lead with a strike just within Spain’s box. Almost immediately, Spain struck back to make the scoreline 2-2. Later in the half, Spain failed to clear a Yugoslavia free-kick into the box, and Komljenovi was left clear to score. At 3-2, it seemed that Spain was heading out until the referee gave a late penalty, duly converted to make the scoreline 3-3. Yet, Spain had to win the game to make it through, and in the final minute, Xabi Alonso struck a volley into the back of Yugoslavia’s goal to put them 4-3 up, which was the final score. Spain topped the group and made it to the quarter-finals.
On their way to Euro glory, Spain took on the Russians in the Euro 2008 semi-final. A clinical Spain dominated this match as they swept the Russians aside. Whilst the first half remained goalless, the floodgates opened early in the second half when Xavi steered a cross from the left into the back of Russia’s net. Later, Spain lobbed the ball over Russia’s keeper to make it 2-0, and with just 10 minutes to play, Spain scored again to seal a 3-0 win. The victory ensured their place in the final, a game they won 1-0.
Spain’s crushing victory against Italy in the Euro 2012 final set new records. In the final, they came up against a rejuvenated Italian side, but within the first 15 minutes of the match, Spain was 1-0 up as David Silva headed into an open net from close range. Shortly before the half-time interval, the lead was doubled when Jordi Alba was played through to slot the ball past the Italian keeper.
2-0 remained the score until some way into the second half, whilst Italy had a few chances saved, which may have turned the game. Within the final 10 minutes, Fernando Torres picked up the ball some way into the Italian box and scored from within a few yards of their goal. In the final minutes of the match, Torres laid the ball up for Malta within the Italian box, and with Gianluigi Buffon out of position away from the goal line, it was a tap-in for the fourth goal. The game ended Spain 4 Italy 0, a record victory in a UEFA European Championship final.
Spain played England in the most recent Euro 2024 final. It was then that the Spanish secured a fourth European crown against a resilient England team. There were no goals in the first half of this match, even though Spain bossed possession and England barely had more than one shot.
The match came to life in the second half when Nico Williams put the Spanish ahead shortly after half-time. England bounced back with a fine equalizing strike from Cole Palmer. Spain secured a 2-1 win with a late Mikel Oyarzabal goal.
Those were some of Spain’s greatest games in the European Championship, in which the Spaniards played some enthralling soccer. Spain showed their class in those matches during the tournaments they became champions. Lamine Yamal and co will hope to emulate those great Spanish matches at Euro 2028.
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