La Roja will defend a perfect fourth record when they face Italy at Wembley Stadium this time.
Spain will compete in their fifth EURO semi-final on Tuesday and Italy will have the enviable task of finishing their immaculate record in the last four. We look back at this profitable stage of the competition for La Roja.
1964: Spain 2-1 Hungary (aet)
The Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid was the setting for Spain’s first ever EURO final. At the head of the outstanding Luis Suárez, José Villalonga’s accusations seemed to be set in a place in the final when Jesús María Pereda planted a header in the first half in the upper corner, but Ferenc Bene’s predatory goal took a draw in extra time. With time running out during the extra period, Amancio Amaro burst into the winner after José Maria Fusté had pulled down a corner by Carlos Lapetra – Spain would leave it late to seal the victory in the final against the Soviet Union as well.
1984: Denmark 1-1 Spain (pens: 4-5)
The drama of Spain’s next last four outing took place in a penalty shootout in Lyon. Such an end looked very unlikely when Søren Lerby gave Denmark an early lead and Frank Arnesen hit the post in an impressive first half from Sepp Piontek’s side. However, La Roja was another proposal after that, with Antonio Maceda equalizing in 90 minutes and Lobo Carrasco went close twice in extra time, where Denmark was reduced to ten men. Preben Elkjær was probably the last player to be expected to fail in the shoot-out, but his miss ensured that Miguel Muñoz’s men reached the show – France would take credit there.
2008: Russia 0-3 Spain
Was this the game that ushered in Spain’s era of international domination? An equally free-flowing Russian side offered a major test of the credentials of Luis Aragoné’s accusations, but their response was emphatic. Xavi Hernández broke the deadlock and the spirit of Russia five minutes after half-time by leading Andrés Iniesta’s fine left cross past Igor Akinfeev, and La Roja eased to victory with further goals from Daniel Güiza and David Silva. They would scrape their 44-year-old itch in the final against Germany thanks to Fernando Torres’ winner – a first FIFA World Cup would follow two years later.
2012: Portugal 0-0 Spain (pens 2-4)
Spain beat Portugal on penalties 2012 / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / Getty Images
The European and world champions were the team to beat in 2012 and no side came closer to overthrowing them than their Iberian rivals. Vicente del Bosque’s well-oiled machine sprayed during much of the competition, although penalties would have been avoided if Rui Patrício had not denied Andrés Iniesta from idle in extra time. La Roja kept his nerve, but converted four spot kicks in a row after Xabi Alonso’s first miss to move on. No team had ever won three major tournaments in a row, but Spain would create history in a sensational way by beating Italy 4-0 in the final.
