Spain vs England: Historic Rivalry Reignited for Euro 2024 Final
Spain and England will lock horns against each other in the final of the Euro 2024 to be hosted in Berlin on Sunday. Given the high profile of the two nations involved in football, the teams seldom play each other in major championships.
Spain vs England Euro 2024 Final Match live update, Time Head to head, Prediction and Time
Registration Follows of their fondest past clashes:
First Competitive Clash (1950 World Cup):
Their first competitive meeting was in the ’50 World Cup in Brazil. Both had started with victories, but suddenly, after England’s surprise defeat at the hands of the USA, their following match with Spain took on different dimensions. A narrow 1-0 victory for Spain sealed England’s fate and ended it.
World Cup Hopes End at Spain 82:
At the 1982 World Cup, Spain and England played out a goalless draw in Madrid; the result that knocked out England saw West Germany squeeze into the semi-finals before going on to fall to Italy in the final.
Pearce’s Penalty at Euro 96:
Their Euro 96 quarter-final ended 0-0 at Wembley after extra time and a produced one of the most exhilarating penalty shootouts. England won it 4-2, with Stuart Pearce scoring, in what was likened to atonement for missing his in the 1990 World Cup. David Seaman’s big save ensured England won.
Friendly Controversy: 2004.
A 1-0 friendly win for Spain over England at the Santiago Bernabeu was marred by racist abuse towards England players. Asier del Horno’s early goal decided the match, but was overshadowed by incidents of racist chanting aimed at Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
England Win Nations League Clash (2018):
Their previous meeting was in the group phase of the UEFA Nations League in 2018. Spain emerged as a 2-1 winner at Wembley, though England gained some revenge with a pulsating 3-2 win in Seville, where Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford shone bright, England comfortable 3-0 up at halftime and able to fend off Spain’s second-half fightback.
Anyway, the final of Euro 2024 will again turn it on as the historic rivalry between Spain and England adds just another chapter to their enthralling history.
Source: AFP
