- England and Spain are far from fierce international rivals
- Two pre-eminent nations have met infrequently on the biggest stages
- Euro 2024 final clash just their third duel in Euros history
England and Spain have long been regarded as pre-eminent footballing nations, yet the pair have met infrequently on the biggest stage.
The two countries have endured peaks and troughs, only Spain made far greater use of their otherworldly talent during their imperious 2008-2012 cycle compared to England, who are still searching for that elusive piece of silverware since their World Cup triumph of 1966.
The Three Lions have been through it all, with what was then "30 years of hurt" when Baddiel & Skinner's iconic track was released in 1996 perpetuating into 2024.
Spain, however, have also endured long ruts and, in more ways than one, boast distinct similarities with the English. They were once perpetual underachievers and had previously adopted a style far more primitive compared to their neutral-pleasing and swashbuckling contemporary form.
Here's an overview of England's head-to-head record with Spain.
Memorable Matches
- Spain 1-0 England - July 1950
- England 2-1 Spain - June 1980
- Spain 2-4 England - February 1987
- England 0-0 (4-2p) Spain - June 1996
- Spain 2-3 England - October 2018
Spain 1-0 England - July 1950
There had been a couple of goal-fests at the very start of the England vs Spain rivalry and, while this clash doesn't exactly fit that bill, it was the first meeting between the two nations at a major tournament.
England's 1950 World Cup campaign was an unmitigated disaster having been embarrassed by the USA in their first group game.
Reporters at the time, such as Mike Payne and Norman Giller, commended the Three Lions' effort and performance all while slating what Payne described as 'dubious' Spanish tactics. Back then, Spain were no advocates of tiki-taka or Total Football. Their approach was direct, aggressive and cynical, but they came up trumps in Rio de Janeiro as striker Telmo Zarra scored the game's only goal just after half-time.
With that defeat, England were out of the World Cup.
England 2-1 Spain - June 1980
30 years on from their first World Cup meeting, the pair faced off for the first time at the European Championship, established in 1960.
Both sides had endured miserable Euro 1980 campaigns and headed into the final group game having each picked up a mere point from their opening two games. England needed at least a two-goal victory to give them any hope of progressing and got off to a good start as Trevor Brooking found the net inside 20 minutes.
Spain, however, got back into the contest after half-time and equalised through a Dani penalty. They then earned another spot-kick just a few minutes later, but following a retake, Ray Clemence denied Dani from 12 yards to restore England's momentum.
Their performance thereafter was impressive and Tony Woodcock's strike on the hour ensured they snatched a deserved victory to bow out of the tournament on a high.
Spain 2-4 England - February 1987
Gary Lineker's exploits at Barcelona meant he was well known to the Santiago Bernabeu faithful when England rocked up at the home of Real Madrid for a friendly in February 1987. Just a few weeks earlier, Lineker had netted a hat-trick in El Clasico in a 3-2 victory for Barca at Camp Nou.
Spain were unbeaten on home soil for three years when Sir Bobby Robson's side visited the capital, but England would depart with a historic victory with Lineker functioning as the protagonist yet again.
Emiliano Butragueno handed the hosts an early lead, but they'd find themselves 4-1 down thanks to Lineker's proficiency in the box. The English forward produced a masterclass in poaching to leave the Three Lions in dreamland, and although Spain would fight back late on and score a second, this was Lineker and England's night.
England 0-0 (4-2p) Spain - June 1996
There was certainly nothing memorable about the opening 120 minutes of this quarter-final clash at Euro 96 other than a wrongfully disallowed Spain goal. It was pretty drab, as was much of the tournament which barely averaged two goals per game.
However, the subsequent penalty shootout - for English supporters anyway - more than made up for what they'd just endured.
It was a bleak time for the national team in the wake of their crushing penalty shootout defeat to Germany six years prior. England had failed miserably at Euro 92 and hadn't even qualified for the 1994 World Cup, but Gazza's magic against Scotland and a thumping victory over the Dutch had seen the nation catch Euros fever on home soil.
Terry Venables' side had a fervent country behind them and their shootout triumph over Spain was the ultimate cathartic release, especially for Stuart Pearce, who blasted home his effort having missed against the Germans. England were perfect from the spot, while Fernando Hierro and Miguel Angel Nadal missed for Spain to send the Three Lions into the last four.
Spain 2-3 England - October 2018
Lineker's heroics in Madrid and England's 4-2 triumph was the last time they'd won in Spain when Gareth Southgate took his buoyant outfit to Seville for a Nations League clash in October 2018.
Spain had won the reverse fixture at Wembley but spirits were high in the English camp off the back of their breakthrough World Cup campaign in Russia.
There was a sense that Southgate's side were capable of pulling off something quite spectacular and they certainly did in Seville. The Three Lions were rampant on the counter-attack, with Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane all wreaking havoc. They were 3-0 up at the break after Eric Dier had snapped Sergio Ramos in half early doors to set the tone.
Spain did rally after the restart, though, and England were reliant on Jordan Pickford towards the end to preserve their victory, but this remains arguably the most impressive performance and significant result of the Southgate era.
England vs Spain - Complete H2H record
- Games played: 27
- England wins: 14
- Draws: 3
- Spain wins: 10
England vs Spain - European Championship H2H record
- Games played: 2
- England wins: 2
- Draws: 0
- Spain wins: 0
Top scorers in England vs Spain fixtures
Player | Nation | Goals |
|---|---|---|
Gary Lineker | England | 4 |
Jack Smith | England | 2 |
Tommy Johnson | England | 2 |
Joe Carter | England | 2 |
Eulogio Martinez | Spain | 2 |
