2024-07-05 02:36:46
After 4 wins in their 4 matches so far at the European Championship in Germany, Spain have further strengthened their role as favorites to win the trophy. Today at 19:00 Luis de la Fuente’s selection goes out for its 5th meeting, and it is against the hosts.
Until the 1/4-finals, the Spaniards scored 9 goals and conceded only 1. However, it came from their man – Robin le Norman scored an own goal in the 4:1 success over Georgia in the 1/8-finals. Thus, for 360 minutes of the championship, not a single opponent managed to stretch the net of “La Furia”.
Everything is going perfectly for the Spaniards, but in order to move forward, they must break a curse that has hung over their national team for 90 years. Never before have the Iberians managed to defeat a host in a major tournament. All 9 of their attempts have failed.
The black streak started at the 1934 World Cup in Italy. In it, Spain plays the 1/4-final with the “squad”. After 1:1, there is a replay according to the then rules. In it, the hosts beat 1:0.
At the World Cup in Brazil 16 years later, in the final group, “La Furia” drew 2:2 with the future champion Uruguay and collapsed 1:6 against the host.
At Euro 1980, which is again Botusa’s, Spain draws 0:0 with Italy. 4 years later, in France, they lost 0:2 to the Roosters in the battle for #1 on the continent. In 1988, again at the European Cup in Germany, the Bundesliga beat the Iberians 2:0.
At Euro 1996 in England, they lost on penalties in the 1/4-final against the hosts.
Again at this stage, but at the World Cup in the Republic of Korea and Japan in 2002, the penalties against the first country turned out to be fatal.
20 years ago in Portugal, Spain fell 0:1 to the hosts and did not get out of the European group to reach the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
There, in the 1/8 finals, “Sbornaya” eliminated the favorite on penalties.