fbpx
Wikipedia

Spain national football team

August 29, 2023

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Spain women's national football team.

The Spain national football team (Spanish: Selección Española de Fútbol) has represented Spain in international men's football competitions since 1920. It is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain.

Spain
Nickname(s)La Roja (The Red One)
La Furia Roja (The Red Fury)[1]
AssociationReal Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachLuis de la Fuente
CaptainÁlvaro Morata
Most capsSergio Ramos (180)[2]
Top scorerDavid Villa (59)
Home stadiumVarious
FIFA codeESP
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 10 (20 July 2023)[3]
Highest1 (July 2008 – June 2009, October 2009 – March 2010, July 2010 – July 2011, October 2011 – July 2014)
Lowest25 (March 1998)
First international
 Spain 1–1 France 
(Hondarribia, Spain; 25 May 1913)
Biggest win
 Spain 13–0 Bulgaria 
(Madrid, Spain; 22 August 1933)
Biggest defeat
 Italy 7–1 Spain 
(Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4 June 1928)
World Cup
Appearances16 (first in 1934)
Best resultChampions (2010)
European Championship
Appearances11 (first in 1964)
Best resultChampions (1964, 2008, 2012)
Nations League Finals
Appearances2 (first in 2021)
Best resultChampions (2023)
FIFA Confederations Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2009)
Best resultRunners-up (2013)
Medal record

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.[5][6][7][8][9] 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.[10] From 2008 to 2013, Spain won the FIFA Team of the Year, the second-most of any nation, behind only Brazil.[11] 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 Edit

See also: History of the Spain national football team
 
Spain national football team in the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp

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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] Until 2010, this had been Spain's highest finish in a FIFA World Cup finals.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17] Also at UEFA Euro 1984, they lost the final against France.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20]

 
World Cup champions parade, celebrate as they pass in front of the Air Force Headquarters in Madrid.

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.[21] In the final, Spain defeated Germany 1–0, with Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game.[22] This was Spain's first major title since the 1964 European Championship. Xavi was awarded the player of the tournament.[nb 1] 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.[23] 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.[5] 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.[24]

Spain advanced to the final of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, losing to hosts Brazil,[25] and the following year they were eliminated from the group stage of the 2014 World Cup.[26] 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.[27][28] 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).[29] The same year they managed to reach the 2021 UEFA Nations League Final, losing against France.[30] 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.[31]

Team image Edit

Nicknames Edit

Spain's team is commonly known by fans as "La Furia Roja", meaning the Red Fury in Spanish.[1] recalling the "Sack of Antwerp" – an episode in the military history of Spain.[32] 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.[33] The Spain football team is sometimes referred as the Bulls due to this cultural heritage.[34]

The Spanish team also received other nicknames, mostly "Toreros" or "Matador" (Bullfighters in Spanish), to describe its passionate and romantic style of football playing.[35]

Style of play Edit

Main article: Tiki-taka
 
Spain, UEFA Euro 2008 winners
 
Spain's players celebrate winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup
 
Spain, UEFA Euro 2012 winners

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.[36]

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",[37] a "short passing style in which the ball is worked carefully through various channels",[38] and a "nonsensical phrase that has come to mean short passing, patience and possession above all else".[39] The style involves roaming movement and positional interchange amongst midfielders, moving the ball in intricate patterns,[40] and sharp, one or two-touch passing.[41] 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.[42] Commentators have contrasted tiki-taka with "Route One physicality"[37] 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.[38] Tiki-taka is associated with flair, creativity, and touch,[43] but can also be taken to a "slow, directionless extreme" that sacrifices effectiveness for aesthetics.[39]

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.[7][5][6]

They have the Barcelona "carousel" of Xavi and Andrés Iniesta augmented by Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso in midfield.

— Phil McNulty of the BBC on the midfield players at the heart of Spain's tiki-taka passing style of play.[5]

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.[39] 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.[44]

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".[42]

We have the same idea as each other. Keep the ball, create movement around and off the ball, get in the spaces to cause danger.

— Xabi Alonso (Spanish midfielder).[41]

Kits and crest Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spain national football team kits.

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 Edit

Kit supplier Period Notes
None 1920–1935
  Deportes Cóndor 1935–1966
  Umbro 1966
  Deportes Cóndor 1967–1981
  Adidas 1981–1983
  Le Coq Sportif 1984–1990
  Adidas 1991–present Current until 2030[45][46]

Home stadium Edit

Main article: List of stadiums in Spain

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.[47]

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,[48] Los Cármenes in Granada,[49] El Molinón in Gijón,[50] and the Rico Pérez in Alicante.[51]

Media coverage Edit

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.[52]

Rivalries Edit

Spain has four main rivalries with other top footballing nations.

  • Their rivalry with Italy, sometimes referred to as the Mediterranean Derby,[53] 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.[54][55] 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.[56][57]
  • 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.[58][59] 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.[60] 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.[61] 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 Edit

For all past match results of the national team, see single-season articles, and Spain national football team results.
Further information: 2022–23 in Spanish football and 2023–24 in Spanish football

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2022 Edit

24 September 2022 (2022-09-24) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A Spain   1–2   Switzerland Zaragoza, Spain
20:45
  • Alba   51'
 Report
Stadium: La Romareda
Attendance: 31,804
Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
27 September 2022 (2022-09-27) 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A Portugal   0–1   Spain Braga, Portugal
20:45 (19:45 UTC+1) Report
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Braga
Attendance: 28,196
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
17 November 2022 (2022-11-17) Friendly Jordan   1–3   Spain Amman, Jordan
19:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Amman International Stadium
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
23 November 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup Group E Spain   7–0   Costa Rica Doha, Qatar
19:00 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium
Attendance: 40,013
Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
27 November 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup Group E Spain   1–1   Germany Al Khor, Qatar
22:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Al-Bayt Stadium
Attendance: 68,895
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
1 December 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup Group E Japan   2–1   Spain Al Rayyan, Qatar
22:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Khalifa International Stadium
Attendance: 44,851
Referee: Victor Gomes (South Africa)
6 December 2022 2022 FIFA World Cup R16 Morocco   0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–0 p)		   Spain Al Rayyan, Qatar
18:00 Report Stadium: Education City Stadium
Attendance: 44,667
Referee: Fernando Rapallini (Argentina)
Penalties

2023 Edit

25 March 2023 2024 Euro Q Spain   3–0   Norway Málaga, Spain
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00)
Report Stadium: La Rosaleda
Attendance: 29,214
Referee: Benoît Bastien (France)
28 March 2023 2024 Euro Q Scotland   2–0   Spain Glasgow, Scotland
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00)
Report Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 47,976
Referee: Sandro Schärer (Switzerland)
15 June 2023 2022–23 UEFA Nations League SF Spain   2–1   Italy Enschede, Netherlands
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00)
Report
Stadium: De Grolsch Veste
Attendance: 24,558
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
18 June 2023 2022–23 UEFA Nations League F Croatia   0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)		   Spain Rotterdam, Netherlands
20:45 CEST Report Stadium: De Kuip
Attendance: 41,110
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Penalties
Note: Spain won on penalties 5–4
8 September 2023 2024 Euro Q Georgia   v   Spain Tbilisi, Georgia
18:00 CEST (UTC+02:00) Report Stadium: Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena
11 September 2023 2024 Euro Q Spain   v   Cyprus Santander, Spain
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00) Report Stadium: El Sardinero
12 October 2023 2024 Euro Q Spain   v   Scotland TBD, Spain
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00) Report Stadium: TBD
15 October 2023 2024 Euro Q Norway   v   Spain Oslo, Norway
20:45 CEST (UTC+02:00) Report Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion
16 November 2023 2024 Euro Q Cyprus   v   Spain TBD, Cyprus
20:45 CET (UTC+01:00) Report Stadium: TBD
19 November 2023 2024 Euro Q Spain   v   Georgia Valladolid, Spain
20:45 CET (UTC+01:00) Report Stadium: José Zorrilla

2024 Edit

25 March 2024 Friendly Spain   v   Brazil Madrid, Spain
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu

Coaching staff Edit

Main article: List of Spain national football team managers
Role Name
Head coach   Luis de la Fuente
Assistant coach   Pablo Amo
Goalkeeping coach   Miguel Ángel España
Fitness coach   Carlos Cruz
Data analysts   Aitor Unzué
  Juanjo González
Psychologist   Joaquín Valdés
Video analyst   Pablo Peña
Doctor   Juan José García Cota
Physiotherapists   Lorenzo del Pozo
  Raúl Martínez
  Miguel Gutiérrez
  Juan Carlos Herranz
  Fernando Galán del Río
Kit men   Joaquín Retamosa
  José Damián García
  Antonio Guerra
Sporting director   Albert Luque
Team manager   Nuria Martínez Navas
Delegate   Pedro Cortés

Players Edit

Main article: List of Spain international footballers

Current squad Edit

The following 23 players were named in the squad for the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals.

On 5 June, David García and Nico Williams withdrew from the squad due to injury and were replaced by Nacho and Ansu Fati, respectively. On 12 June, Juan Bernat withdrew from the squad due to injury and was replaced by Fran García.

Caps and goals updated as of 18 June 2023, after the match against Croatia.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Kepa Arrizabalaga (1994-10-03) 3 October 1994 (age 28) 13 0   Real Madrid
13 1GK David Raya (1995-09-15) 15 September 1995 (age 27) 2 0   Arsenal
23 1GK Unai Simón (1997-06-11) 11 June 1997 (age 26) 33 0   Athletic Bilbao
2 2DF Dani Carvajal (1992-01-11) 11 January 1992 (age 31) 36 0   Real Madrid
3 2DF Robin Le Normand (1996-11-11) 11 November 1996 (age 26) 2 0   Real Sociedad
4 2DF Nacho (1990-01-18) 18 January 1990 (age 33) 24 1   Real Madrid
14 2DF Aymeric Laporte (1994-05-27) 27 May 1994 (age 29) 22 1   Al Nassr
17 2DF Fran García (1999-08-14) 14 August 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Real Madrid
18 2DF Jordi Alba (vice-captain) (1989-03-21) 21 March 1989 (age 34) 93 9   Inter Miami
22 2DF Jesús Navas (1985-11-21) 21 November 1985 (age 37) 48 5   Sevilla
5 3MF Martín Zubimendi (1999-02-02) 2 February 1999 (age 24) 1 0   Real Sociedad
6 3MF Mikel Merino (1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 27) 15 0   Real Sociedad
8 3MF Fabián Ruiz (1996-04-03) 3 April 1996 (age 27) 18 1   Paris Saint-Germain
9 3MF Gavi (2004-08-05) 5 August 2004 (age 19) 21 3   Barcelona
11 3MF Sergio Canales (1991-02-16) 16 February 1991 (age 32) 11 1   Monterrey
16 3MF Rodri (1996-06-22) 22 June 1996 (age 27) 43 1   Manchester City
7 4FW Álvaro Morata (captain) (1992-10-23) 23 October 1992 (age 30) 64 30   Atlético Madrid
10 4FW Marco Asensio (1996-01-21) 21 January 1996 (age 27) 37 2   Paris Saint-Germain
12 4FW Ansu Fati (2002-10-31) 31 October 2002 (age 20) 9 2   Barcelona
15 4FW Yeremy Pino (2002-10-20) 20 October 2002 (age 20) 11 2   Villarreal
19 4FW Rodrigo (1991-03-06) 6 March 1991 (age 32) 28 8   Al-Rayyan
20 4FW Joselu (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 33) 4 3   Real Madrid
21 4FW Dani Olmo (1998-05-07) 7 May 1998 (age 25) 31 6   RB Leipzig

Recent call-ups Edit

The following players have also been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Robert Sánchez (1997-11-18) 18 November 1997 (age 25) 2 0   Chelsea v.   Scotland, 28 March 2023
GK David Soria (1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 30) 0 0   Getafe 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
DF Juan Bernat (1993-03-01) 1 March 1993 (age 30) 11 1   Paris Saint-Germain 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals INJ
DF David García (1994-02-14) 14 February 1994 (age 29) 1 0   Osasuna 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals INJ
DF José Gayà (1995-05-25) 25 May 1995 (age 28) 19 3   Valencia v.   Scotland, 28 March 2023
DF Alejandro Balde (2003-10-18) 18 October 2003 (age 19) 5 0   Barcelona v.   Norway, 25 March 2023
DF César Azpilicueta (1989-08-28) 28 August 1989 (age 33) 44 1   Atlético Madrid 2022 FIFA World Cup
DF Pau Torres (1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 (age 26) 23 1   Aston Villa 2022 FIFA World Cup
DF Eric García (2001-01-09) 9 January 2001 (age 22) 19 0   Barcelona 2022 FIFA World Cup
DF Hugo Guillamón (2000-01-31) 31 January 2000 (age 23) 3 1   Valencia 2022 FIFA World Cup
DF Sergio Ramos (1986-03-30) 30 March 1986 (age 37) 180 23 Retired 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE/RET
DF Gerard Piqué (1987-02-02) 2 February 1987 (age 36) 102 5 Retired 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE/RET
DF Diego Llorente (1993-08-16) 16 August 1993 (age 30) 10 0   Roma 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
DF Marcos Alonso (1990-12-28) 28 December 1990 (age 32) 9 0   Barcelona 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
DF Arnau Martínez (2003-04-25) 25 April 2003 (age 20) 0 0   Girona 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Pedri (2002-11-25) 25 November 2002 (age 20) 18 0   Barcelona v.   Norway, 25 March 2023 INJ
MF Sergio Busquets (1988-07-16) 16 July 1988 (age 35) 143 2   Inter Miami 2022 FIFA World Cup RET
MF Koke (1992-01-08) 8 January 1992 (age 31) 70 0   Atlético Madrid 2022 FIFA World Cup
MF Marcos Llorente (1995-01-30) 30 January 1995 (age 28) 18 0   Atlético Madrid 2022 FIFA World Cup
MF Carlos Soler (1997-01-02) 2 January 1997 (age 26) 14 4   Paris Saint-Germain 2022 FIFA World Cup
MF Thiago Alcântara (1991-04-11) 11 April 1991 (age 32) 46 2   Liverpool 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Sergi Roberto (1992-02-07) 7 February 1992 (age 31) 11 1   Barcelona 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Brais Méndez (1997-01-07) 7 January 1997 (age 26) 4 1   Real Sociedad 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
MF Oihan Sancet (2000-04-25) 25 April 2000 (age 23) 0 0   Athletic Bilbao 2022 FIFA World Cup PRE
FW Nico Williams (2002-07-12) 12 July 2002 (age 21) 8 1   Athletic Bilbao 2023 UEFA Nations League FinalsINJ
FW Gerard Moreno (1992-04-07) 7 April 1992 (age 31) 17 5   Villarreal v.   Norway, 25 March 2023 INJ
FW Bryan Gil (2001-02-11) 11 February 2001 (age 22) 4 0   Sevilla v.   Norway, 25 March 2023 INJ
FW Ferran Torres (2000-02-29) 29 February 2000 (age 23) 35 15   Barcelona 2022 FIFA World Cup
FW Pablo Sarabia (1992-05-11) 11 May 1992 (age 31) 26 9   Wolverhampton Wanderers 2022 FIFA World Cup

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury
PRE 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 Edit

World Cup
European Championship
UEFA Nations League Finals
Confederations Cup
Olympic Games

Individual records Edit

Player records Edit

Main articles: List of Spain international footballers and Spain national football team records and statistics

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.[62][failed verification]

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.

Between November 2006 and June 2009, Spain went undefeated for a record-equaling 35 consecutive matches before their loss to the United States in the Confederations Cup, a record shared with Brazil and Italy, and included a record 15-game winning streak. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Spain became the inaugural European national team to lift the World Cup trophy outside Europe; along with Brazil, Germany and Argentina, Spain is one of the four national team to have won the FIFA World Cup outside its home continent.

Most capped players Edit

 
Sergio Ramos holds the record for the most appearances in the history of Spain with 180 caps

Below is a list of the ten players with the most caps for Spain, as of 6 December 2022.[2][63]

Players in bold are still active with Spain.
Rank Player Caps Goals Period
1 Sergio Ramos 180 23 2005–2021
2 Iker Casillas 167 0 2000–2016
3 Sergio Busquets 143 2 2009–2022
4 Xavi 133 13 2000–2014
5 Andrés Iniesta 131 13 2006–2018
6 Andoni Zubizarreta 126 0 1985–1998
7 David Silva 125 35 2006–2018
8 Xabi Alonso 114 16 2003–2014
9 Cesc Fàbregas 110 15 2006–2016
Fernando Torres 110 38 2003–2014

Youngest capped player Edit

Oldest capped player Edit

Top goalscorers Edit

 
David Villa is the top scorer in the history of Spain with 59 goals

Below is a list of the top ten goalscorers for Spain, as of 15 June 2023.[65][66]

Rank Player Goals Caps Average Period
1 David Villa (list) 59 98 0.6 2005–2017
2 Raúl (list) 44 102 0.43 1996–2006
3 Fernando Torres (list) 38 110 0.35 2003–2014
4 David Silva 35 125 0.28 2006–2018
5 Álvaro Morata 30 64 0.47 2014–present
6 Fernando Hierro 29 89 0.33 1989–2002
7 Fernando Morientes 27 47 0.57 1998–2007
8 Emilio Butragueño 26 69 0.38 1984–1992
9 Alfredo Di Stéfano (list) 23 31 0.74 1957–1961
Sergio Ramos 23 180 0.13 2005–2021

Youngest goalscorer Edit

Oldest goalscorer Edit

Most goals scored in a single match Edit

First goal scored Edit

Captains Edit

Main article: List of Spain national football team captains

List of Spain's captains in majors tournaments.

Manager records Edit

Main articles: List of Spain national football team managers and Spain national football team records and statistics
  • Most manager appearances
Vicente del Bosque: 114

Team records Edit

Main article: Spain national football team records and statistics

Competitive record Edit

FIFA World Cup Edit

Main article: Spain at the FIFA World Cup

Spain’s World Cup records does not compare to their European records. Although often entering tournaments as one of the favorites, Spain had somewhat lackluster tournaments throughout the years and often failed to make any significant impact. Spain’s first World Cup was in 1934, in that tournament Spain started off their campaign by defeating Brazil 3–1 to advance to the quarterfinals, where they lost to host Italy in a very controversial match that saw the Italians being favored by the referee. Before Spain success in 2010, their best result came in 1950, where they were able to reach the last four. Spain were paired with host Brazil, 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 that years World Cup.

60 years after finishing up in fourth place, and after so many failed attempts and heartbreaks, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, Spain who were the current European champions and the heavy favorites to win it, finally lived up to the expectations and became World Champions for the very first time. They defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the final. Thus becoming the eight country to win the World Cup and the very first European team to lift the trophy outside of their continent.


  Champions    Runners-up    Third place     Tournament played fully or partially on home soil  

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1930 Did not enter Did not enter
  1934 Quarter-finals 5th 3 1 1 1 4 3 2 2 0 0 11 1
  1938 Withdrew Withdrew
  1950 Fourth place 4th 6 3 1 2 10 12 2 1 1 0 7 3
  1954 Did not qualify 3 1 1 1 6 4
  1958 4 2 1 1 12 8
  1962 Group stage 13th 3 1 0 2 2 3 4 3 1 0 7 4
  1966 10th 3 1 0 2 4 5 3 2 0 1 5 2
  1970 Did not qualify 6 2 2 2 10 6
  1974 5 2 2 1 8 6
  1978 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 2 4 3 0 1 4 1
  1982 Second group stage 12th 5 1 2 2 4 5 Qualified as host
  1986 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 1 1 11 4 6 4 0 2 9 8
  1990 Round of 16 10th 4 2 1 1 6 4 8 6 1 1 20 3
  1994 Quarter-finals 8th 5 2 2 1 10 6 12 8 3 1 27 4
  1998 Group stage 17th 3 1 1 1 8 4 10 8 2 0 26 6
    2002 Quarter-finals 5th 5 3 2 0 10 5 8 6 2 0 21 4
  2006 Round of 16 9th 4 3 0 1 9 4 12 6 6 0 25 5
  2010 Champions 1st 7 6 0 1 8 2 10 10 0 0 28 5
  2014 Group stage 23rd 3 1 0 2 4 7 8 6 2 0 14 3
  2018 Round of 16 10th 4 1 3 0 7 6 10 9 1 0 36 3
  2022 13th 4 1 2 1 9 3 8 6 1 1 15 5
      2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 1 Title 16/23 67 31 17 19 108 75 125 87 26 12 291 81

UEFA European Championship Edit

Main article: Spain at the UEFA European Championship

Spain is along with Germany the two most successful nations at the UEFA European Championship having won three titles each. La Roja is so far the only nation to have won back-to-back championships. They have hosted the European competition on one occasion 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 very first international trophy on home soil in 1964, defeating the defending European champions Soviet Union 2–1.

Spain would reach the finals of a European Championship twenty years later in 1984 where they lost the final to a France that was led by Ballon d'Or winner Michel Platini.

Spain would not make another final appearance until 2008, where Spain’s golden generation began to form and with a beautiful style of football they conquered the European Championship defeating Germany 1–0 in the finals.

Four years later Spain’s golden generation would make history by winning the championship yet again, this time defeating old time rivals Italy 4–0 in the final in Kiev, thus becoming so far the only national team to win back-to-back championships.

UEFA European Championship record Qualifying record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1960 Withdrew 2 2 0 0 7 2
  1964 Champions 1st 2 2 0 0 4 2 6 4 1 1 16 5
  1968 Did not qualify 8 3 2 3 7 5
  1972 6 3 2 1 14 3
  1976 8 3 4 1 11 9
  1980 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 4 6 4 1 1 13 5
  1984 Runners-up 2nd 5 1 3 1 4 5 8 6 1 1 24 8
  1988 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 3 5 6 5 0 1 14 6
  1992 Did not qualify 7 3 0 4 17 12
  1996 Quarter-finals 6th 4 1 3 0 4 3 10 8 2 0 25 4
    2000 5th 4 2 0 2 7 7 8 7 0 1 42 5
  2004 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 2 10 7 2 1 21 5
    2008 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 12 3 12 9 1 2 23 8
    2012 Champions 1st 6 4 2 0 12 1 8 8 0 0 26 6
  2016 Round of 16 10th 4 2 0 2 5 4 10 9 0 1 23 3
  2020 Semi-finals 3rd 6 2 4 0 13 6 10 8 2 0 31 5
  2024 To be determined 2 1 0 1 3 2
Total 3 Titles 11/17 46 21 15 10 68 42 127 90 18 19 317 93

UEFA Nations League Edit

Spain’s record at the Nations League is one of the better ones. La Roja have been a part of Division A since the creation of the tournament and they have reached the final four on two occasions. Spain’s best campaigns has been the 2020–21 season where they qualified to the finals by defeating Germany 6–0 in the last game of the group stages, and Italy 2–1 in the semi-finals. In the final they were defeated by France 2–1. The following campaign Spain qualified to the final four again, this time defeating Portugal 1–0 in their final group stage match. In the semifinals they met Italy yet again in a repeat of their previous semifinal two years ago. Spain defeated Italy yet again by the same score line, thus reaching a second consecutive final. Spain’s opponent in the final was Croatia whose golden generation had reached a World Cup final in 2018, and a third place finished in 2022. In a very hard fought game where both teams had chances of winning, the game ended 0–0 and went to penalties. Against all odds, Spain defeated Croatia (who had a 4–0 unbeaten run on penalties) and became Nations League champions for the very first time. Thus ending an 11 year drought of not winning any international trophies.

UEFA Nations League record
League phase Finals
Season LG GP Pos Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK Year Pos Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
2018–19 A 4 2nd 4 2 0 2 12 7   7th   2019 Did not qualify
2020–21 A 4 1st 6 3 2 1 13 3   2nd   2021 Runners-up 2 1 0 1 3 3 Squad
2022–23 A 2 1st 6 3 2 1 8 5   1st   2023 Champions 2 1 1 0 2 1 Squad
2024–25 A To be determined   2025 To be determined
Total 16 8 4 4 33 15 1st Total 4 2 1 1 5 4 1 title

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

FIFA Confederations Cup Edit

Spain made two appearances at the FIFA Confederations. Their first appearance came in 2009 where they achieved a third place medal. Spain had entered the competition as favorites to win it but shockingly lost 2–0 to the United States in the semi-finals. A year later Spain would conquer the World Cup trophy in South Africa. At the next edition Spain qualified again as World Champions. La Roja made their best result on this edition, reaching the final in Brazil losing to the host. The following year Spain failed to progress pass the group stage of the World Cup.

FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
  1992 UEFA did not participate
  1995 Did not qualify
  1997
  1999
    2001
  2003
  2005
  2009 Third place 3rd 5 4 0 1 11 4
  2013 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 15 4
  2017 Did not qualify
Total Runners-up 2/10 10 7 1 2 26 8

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions Edit

This Intercontinental tournament remains the only competition which Spain has not taken part of although two matches against the Copa America champion Uruguay were played in 2013. The first meeting between the reigning European champions and Copa America champions happened in a friendly that was held in Qatar, Spain managed to defeat Uruguay 3–1. Their second meeting came months later in a competitive match at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and once again Spain managed to defeat their South American counterpart 2–1.

CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  1985 Did not qualify
  1993
  2022
Total — 0/3 – – – – – –

Head-to-head record Edit

Main article: Spain national football team head-to-head record

All-time results Edit

Main article: Spain national football team results

The following table shows Spain's all-time international record, correct as of 14 June 2021.

Played Won Drawn Lost GF GA
Total 716 418 166 132 1434 643

Honours Edit

Major titles Edit

Awards Edit

Chronology of Finals Edit

Overview
Event 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place
FIFA World Cup 1 0 0 1
Olympic Games 0 1 0 0
FIFA Confederations Cup 0 1 1 0
UEFA European Championship 3 1 1 0
UEFA Nations League 1 1 0 0
Total 5 4 2 1

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Spanish players named in the team of the tournament were: goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas; defenders Carles Puyol and Carlos Marchena; midfielders Xavi, Cesc Fàbregas, Andrés Iniesta and Marcos Senna; and strikers David Villa and Fernando Torres.

References Edit

  1. ^ a b