Spain’s top 10 greatest moments in football history

Flashback of Spain’s best moments in their century-long football history.

If you are a Spanish fan, La Roja have given you many moments worth cherishing so far in this Euro 2024, as they are the only team with a 100% win rate in this competition. Spain, who topped the group of death after edging past Croatia, Italy, and Albania, also managed to nullify the threats from dark horses, Georgia, in the round of 16 before eliminating the hosts Germany from the quarter-finals to seal a semi-final berth against France in Munich.

But, Spanish dominance in world football is not new, as the 2008-2013 generation of Spanish footballers were a nightmare for the opposition. The invincible and indomitable Spanish forces dominated world football as they went on to win three major international trophies successively in just four years. Apart from just winning accolades, the Tiki-Taka’s have given football fans from all across the planet some iconic, heart-touching, and awe-inspiring moments.

In this feature, we take you on an epic rollercoaster ride to find out some of the greatest moments of the Spanish national team that will bring tears to your eyes and make you fall in love with their exciting and entertaining brand of football.

10. Spain won FIFA Team of the Year from 2008 to 2013

The golden generation of the Spanish national team created havoc among all countries in the world as La Roja went on to win three major international trophies within a short span of four years, including the Euros in 2008 and 2012 and the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Their revolutionary tiki-taka brand of football was so soothing to watch that even a non-Spanish football fan would admire their chemistry and magic that inspired some of the iconic moments in football history.

Vincent del Bosque’s tactical masterclass, combined with the likes of Casillas, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta, and Busquets, was destined to bring wonders for the nation. From 2008 to 2013, Spain won the FIFA Team of the Year consecutively for six years, giving a glimpse of how much joy and happiness they brought home for the loyalists.

9. Securing Highest Ever 30/30 Points in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers of 2010

The 2008 Euro champions were placed alongside Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Armenia, and Estonia in Group 5 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers of 2010. La Roja went on to defeat every single team, not once, but twice to grab all thirty maximum points to etch their name in the history books.

The convincing victories from Spain were just the calm before the storm as Espana went on to become the world champions in the same edition of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Spanish players found the back of the net 28 times and conceded merely 5 goals, as David Villa netted 7 goals, the second-highest after the 9-goal tally from Edin Dzeko.

8. Only Team with Germany to Win Both Men’s & Women’s World Cup

Spain showed pure class and dominance in the world of football as they became the second and only country after Germany to win both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup. The Spanish men’s team won their first and only World Cup trophy in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, complemented by the women’s team who became the world champions by defeating England in the finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia.

This feat was previously achieved by Germany when their women’s team won the FIFA World Cup in 2003 after defeating Sweden 2-1 in the Finals at Carson.

7. Dramatic 4-3 Comeback Against Yugoslavia in Injury Time

Espana faced a huge setback in their opening clash when Norway got the better of La Roja. Spain had their last group game against Yugoslavia, who were unbeaten in the competition so far. It was a must-win match for Espana as only a win could guarantee their place in the next round of the tournament.

It is still considered one of the games of the decade by football pundits all across the world. After going down 3-2 at the end of ninety minutes, Spain scripted a miraculous comeback in the 94th and 95th minutes of the match. Amidst despair, frustrations, and agony, the Spanish god arrived from heaven as Mendieta equalized from the penalty spot in the 94th minute, and Alfonso found the winner just seconds before the referee was about to blow his final whistle.

6. Espana’s 35-Match Unbeaten Streak

The golden generation of Spain was just kicking off when they pulled off a historic 35-match unbeaten streak. La Roja was undefeated by any country in the world in the calendar years of 2007 and 2008. Their unbeaten streak began with a slender 1-0 win over the Three Lions in Cadiz. In the European Champions qualifiers, Espana went on to defeat Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, and Liechtenstein.

La Roja’s unbeaten streak also included their 10 consecutive victories in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers of 2010. After the tally reached 30, Espana got the better of New Zealand, South Africa, and Iraq before the USA brought a halt to their historic 35-match unbeaten streak in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

5. Winning First Major Trophy by Lifting ’64 Euros

Espana, who played their first international fixture against Denmark in 1920, had to wait for 44 years until winning their first major trophy in the Euros of 1964. The occasion was more special as they achieved this incredible feat on their home soil. The 27-year-old Catalan Fernando Olivella captained La Roja to continental success just a few hours before he was about to turn a year wiser and older.

Espana, who reached the finals by defeating Romania, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, had to face a formidable opponent in the form of the Soviet Union. The nail-biting final fixture saw Espana drawing first blood when Pereda made the Santiago Bernabeau erupt in joy in just 6 minutes. The happiness was short-lived as Khusainov equalized within a minute. But, Marcelino’s goal in the 84th minute sealed the match for Spain.

4. Champions of ’08 Euros

The golden generation of Spain already started cooking when they went on to register a thirty-five match unbeaten streak from 2006 to 2009. However, Espana was yet to taste any major success since 1964, and hence a continental trophy was the need of the hour.

La Roja stood and delivered to their fans’ expectations as they won all their group games against Russia, Sweden, and Greece before defeating Italy in the quarter-finals to seal a semi-final berth against familiar opponents, Russia, who had the best chance to take revenge for their 1964 Euro Final defeat. But Espana was in no mood to retreat. Vienna saw the inception of Spain’s golden generation as La Roja defeated Germany to win the Euros after 44 years.

3. Iniesta Dedicating His Final Winner to the Late Jarque

The 26-year-old Daniel Jarque was named the Spain captain for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. One month after that announcement, news broke out that shocked every football fan on this planet. The Spanish captain, Jarque, left for his heavenly abode after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 26.

Jarque’s close friend, Andres Iniesta, who scored the 116th-minute winner against Holland in the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, dedicated his goal to Jarque. He removed his jersey to reveal an undershirt with the sentence, “Dani Jarque, always with us,” in Spanish.

Also read: Spain’s greatest player

2. Winning ’12 Euros

Well, if you think the golden generation of Spain had enough, you were wrong, as they went on to shock the world as they clinched their third major trophy by winning the Euros of 2012. They became the first and only country to date to win the Euros consecutively in two editions.

Spain was placed in the group of death alongside Italy, Croatia, and Ireland. But no team on this planet had yet found a way to stop the Spanish juggernaut, who marched on to defeat Les Bleus in the quarter-finals, Portugal in the semi-finals, and finally beating the Azzurri 4-0 in the most convincing manner to win the UEFA Euros 2012 in Kyiv.

1. World Champions in FIFA World Cup ’10

No matter how much continental success they had tasted, Espana was yet to play the planet’s ultimate game, or in simple words, they were yet to feature in the finals of the FIFA World Cup. But every time the world doubted Espana’s ability, they defied all odds to emerge victorious.

Similar things happened in the World Cup of 2010 in South Africa. Espana was the group winner and they went on to defeat Portugal in the Round of 16, Paraguay in the quarter-finals, and Germany in the semi-finals to finally make their first-ever appearance in the planet’s ultimate game. The city of Johannesburg gathered at the Soccer City Arena to witness the spectacle of Spain’s golden generation as they went on to lift their first-ever FIFA World Cup Trophy in 2010.

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