Here Are 69 Spanish Football Facts You Need To Know

The popular Spain soccer league, LaLiga is one of the most popular soccer leagues in Europe.

Football is a popular pastime among Spaniards, and almost everyone has some connection to the game. In line with figures released by the Spanish government's sports department in 2019, football has the most registered players and also the most registered clubs.

Spain presently participates in Division A of the UEFA Nations League. Their finest achievement came within the 2020–21 season, where they reached the final but were defeated by France.

Spain National Team

Spain is the only country to have won three consecutive major championships, becoming the primary European team to win a FIFA tournament outside of Europe in 2010, and was the only team to win back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012. Here are some more facts about the Spanish soccer team that fans will absolutely love:

• From the start of 2007 until the end of 2009, the Spanish national team was unbeaten in 35 consecutive matches, an accomplishment shared with Brazil and a record at the time.
• Many analysts and observers believe the 2008–2012 Spanish team to be one of the best international sides in world football.
• Since 1920, the Spanish national squad (English and Spanish: Selección Espaola de Ftbol) has represented Spain in international men's football events.
• The sport is regulated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Spain's football regulatory organization.
• Spain is one of eight national teams to have won the Planet Cup, having competed in 15 of the 21 FIFA World Cups and qualifying consecutively since 1978.
• Spain has also won three Continental Championships and has competed in 11 of the 15 UEFA European Championships.
• The Spanish national team is often known as La Roja (The Red One), La Furia Roja (The Red Fury), La Furia Española (The Spanish Fury), or just La Furia (The Fury).

History Of Spanish Football

Spain has been a FIFA member since FIFA's inception in 1904, despite the fact that the Spanish Football Federation was founded in 1909.

• The primary Spanish national squad was formed in 1920, with the aim of creating a side to represent Spain at the Summer Olympics in Belgium the same year.
• Spain played the first match on August 28, 1920, against Denmark, the silver medalists in the previous two Olympic games. The Spanish team won that match by a score of 1–0 and went on to win the silver.
• Spain qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 1934, defeating Brazil in its first game before falling to the hosts and defending champions Italy in a replay in the quarter-finals.
• Between the 1934 tournament and the 1950 tournament qualifications, Spain was unable to play any competitive matches because of Spanish warfare.
• They won their group to advance to the ultimate round at the 1950 World Championships in Brazil, where they finished fourth.
• Until 2010, this was Spain's best end in a FIFA tournament, earning them the moniker 'underachievers.'
• When Spain hosted the 1964 European Championship, it won its first major international trophy, defeating Russia 2–1 in the final at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
• For the following 44 years, the triumph would be Spain's lone major trophy.
• Spain was chosen to host the 1982 FIFA tournament, reaching the second round, and four years later reaching the quarter-finals before losing on penalties to Belgium.
• Spain advanced to the Planet Cup quarterfinals in 1994.
• When Italian defender Mauro Tassotti hit Luis Enrique inside Spain's penalty area, causing him to bleed profusely from his mouth and nose, referee Sándor Puhl didn't spot or discipline the offense.
• Spain would have received a penalty kick if the official had recognized the infraction.
• Spain won three team games at the 2002 tournament before defeating the Republic of Eire on penalties in the second round.
• They lost in a penalty shootout against the co-hosts Republic of Korea after two goals were controversially brought back for suspected fouls during regular and additional time.
• Spain won all of their games in Group D at UEFA Euro 2008.
• The quarter-final match was against Italy, in which Spain won 4–2 on penalties.
• They next faced Russia again in the semi-finals, winning 3–0.
• Spain beat Germany 1–0 in the final, with Fernando Torres scoring the game's only goal. This was Spain's first major championship since the ECU Championship in 1964.
• Xavi was named the tournament's best player.
• Andrés Iniesta scored the game's solitary goal in overtime against the Netherlands.
• La Furia Española (The Spanish Fury) became only the third team in history to win a tournament outside of their home continent, and therefore the first European team to try and do it.
• Iker Casillas received the golden glove for conceding only two goals during the tournament, while David Villa got the bronze ball and silver boot for being the tournament's best scorer.
• Spain qualified first in Group I for UEFA Euro 2012 with a flawless 100% record.
• La Furia became the primary team to retain the ECU Championship, defeating Italy 4–0 within the final, and Fernando Torres was named the tournament's best scorer.
• However, they were ousted from the group phase of the 2014 Fifa tournament two years later.
• The team reached the ultimate 16 at both Euro 2016 and also the 2018 tournament.
• Spain made a breakthrough within the UEFA Euro 2020 competition in 2021, reaching the ultimate four of a serious tournament for the first time since 2012, before losing on penalties to the eventual champions, Italy.
• The squad ended the tournament with two victories and four ties (including two penalty shootouts).
• Their rivalry with Italy, called the Mediterranean Derby, has been contested since 1920, and, despite the fact that the two nations aren't geographical neighbors, their rivalry at the international level is heightened by the strong performances of each of the clubs in UEFA competitions.
• The rivalry has resurfaced since the two countries met within the quarterfinals of Euro 2008, with the most important meeting between the two teams in the UEFA Euro 2012 Final, which Spain won 4–0.
• However, they were ousted from the group stage of the 2014 tournament two years later.
• Their national rivalry with France, another major football force, is additionally one of the oldest.
• Spain and France have played 36 times in total, beginning with a 4–0 victory for Spain in a friendly in Bordeaux on April 30, 1922, but their first competitive encounter occurred within the UEFA Euro 1984 Final, which France won to claim its first major international honor.
• Spain led the head-to-head record, with 16 victories, 13 defeats, and seven ties, however, France has received more international acclaim.
• Real Madrid is one of the major clubs of Spain and is one of the best-known league soccer teams across the world.

Statistics Of Spanish Football Team Performance

Biggest wins of the Spanish football team performance:

• The Spanish football team played a friendly match with Bulgaria on May 21, 1933, where they won 13-0 resulting in one of their biggest wins.
• Further on December 21, 1983, in a match against Malta for Euro qualification, the national team won with a score of 12-1, winning by 11 points.
• On June 20, 2013, in a match with Tahiti, the football team won with a clear score of 10 and qualified for the Confederations Cup.
• On September 5, 2016, in a match with Liechtenstein, the team won with eight goals and qualified for the 2018 World cup.
• In a match, on September 8, 1999, against Cyprus for the Euro qualifiers, the football national team won with a clear score of 8-0.

Major defeats for the football national team of Spain:

• On June 4, 1928, in a match during the 1928 Olympics with Italy, the football national team lost 1-7.
• Further in a friendly match with England on December 9, 1931, the team lost with the same score.
• On July 30, 1950, in the World Cup match against Brazil, the national team lost with 5 goal points. In a friendly match with Italy In 1942 two national teams lost with a score of 0-4.
• Soccer is the national sport of Spain and is a very popular game. The football history of Spain goes a long way. There are national teams that play international football throughout history. Most of the Real Madrid fans are for Spain.
• The majority of fans support Real Madrid or FC Barcelona, while other teams like Atlético de Madrid, Valencia CF, Athletic Bilbao, or Sevilla FC have fewer fans across the country.
• Previous winners of the Copa del Rey include FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Arenas Club de Getxo, and Real Unión. Racing de Santander qualified through a knock-out competition against Sevilla FC, while Atletico Madrid, RCD Espanyol, and CE Europa qualified as Copa del Rey runners-up which were in Europe.
• The competition's inaugural winner was Barcelona.
• Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, and Barcelona are the three clubs that have always remained in the Primera Division.
• Then there are six clubs which are the Real Sociedad, Valencia, Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Atlético Madrid, and Sporting de Gijón, that have never gone below the top two tiers.
• Christiano Ronaldo is one of the top scorers according to football experts.
• Football experts also say that just like Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is also one of the top scorers.
• The Barcelona style of playing soccer is also known as 'tiki taka'.
• From the start of 2007 until the end of 2009, the Spanish national team was unbeaten in 35 consecutive matches, an accomplishment shared with Brazil and a record at the time.
• Many analysts and observers believe the 2008–2012 Spanish team to be one of the best ever international sides in world football.

Facts About Spanish Football Team

Here are some interesting facts about the Spanish football team:

• Spain is the first country to win three straight major championships (Euro 2008, FIFA tournament 2010, and Euro 2012).
• Spain and Brazil both have 35 unbeaten games in international football.
• Spain is the only side in tournament history to win after losing the primary game.
• In 2012, Spain defeated Italy 4-0 within the competitive football final with the best goal difference.
• Spain hasn't lost a tournament qualifier since 1993.
• They held a record of 50 undefeated tournament qualifying games once they defeated France 1-0 on March 26, 2013.
• In each knock-out phase of a significant tournament since 2008, Spain has not surrendered a goal (in a minimum of 120 minutes per match) against Portugal, Germany, Italy, France, or The Netherlands.
• Sergio Ramos has made 180 appearances for the Spanish national team since his debut in 2005. Iker Casillas is in second place with 167 points, followed by Xavi with 133.
• David Villa is Spain's all-time leading scorer, with 59 goals from 2005-2017, during which era he appeared for Spain on 98 occasions.
• Ral González is the second most prolific goal scorer, with 44 goals in 102 games between 1996 and 2006.
• Spanish football is known for its historically skilled, fluid, and open play.
• Spain's first match was on August 8, 1920, against Denmark. Since its inception in 1909, the squad has competed in 13 FIFA World Cups and 9 UEFA European Football Championships.
• The biggest win Spain recorded ever was 13-0 against Bulgaria.