While not carrying an eternal rivalry or the thrill of a heavyweight clash, Spain taking on England has produced some memorable games in history. Most meetings have been in international friendlies with only three face-offs in major finals. Hence, the hype around the fixture is yet to be built. However, the Euro 2024 final is proving to be the most significant clash between the pair as the winners in Berlin will create history. La Roja are battling to be the sole record champions while the Three Lions are aiming for their first and second major silverware since the 1966 World Cup hosted on their soil.
England has been the successful team in this contest collecting 14 wins to 10 by Spain including victories in the only two Euro meetings. However, the three-time Euro winners have been dominant in the fixture this century with five wins out of nine meetings. Goals have been in plenty when these two have locked horns with only two goalless draws ever played in 27 meetings. The Three Lions come up strong again with 48 strikes and scoring three or more goals in a match five times. Despite that, La Roja edges slightly in terms of defensive solidity by keeping nine clean sheets.
Spain vs England head-to-head meetings (overall)
Played - 27
Spain won - 10
Drawn - 3
England won - 14
Spain vs England head-to-head meetings (Euros)
Played - 2
Spain won - 0
Drawn - 1
England won - 1
Spain vs England goals scored
Spain scored - 30
England scored - 48
Spain vs England clean sheets
Spain - 9
England - 8
Biggest win: England 7-1 Spain - International Friendly (9 December 1931)
The biggest winning margin of this clash came in only the second-ever meeting in 1931 in the former Highbury Stadium. After a loss in the 4-3 thriller in the first encounter between the pair at Madrid just two years ago, an overly one-sided affair turned out this time with England thrashing Spain 7-1. All matches were played as friendlies back then. Jack Smith and Tommy Johnson scored within the opening 10 minutes before the former completed his brace inside the first half. Spain's defence withered further in the latter period conceding four more goals after Johnson completed his brace alongside Sammy Crooks’s double and Dixie Dean adding the other. Guillermo Gorostiza was the only player to get on the scoresheet for the guests in the 85th minute to give an unwanted solace.
Last Euro Meeting: England 0-0 Spain (4-2 on penalties) UEFA Euro 1996 quarterfinal (22 June 1996)
The 1996 Euro meeting, the first time in the knockout stage of a major competition, was a tight battle just like the only other clash in the tournament that resulted in a 2-1 win for England. The Three Lions also triumphed in this meeting but required a penalty shootout victory, a first-ever in the tournament. The squad with top names resonating with English football also contained the current manager Gareth Southgate. After Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Paul Gascoigne or substitute Robbie Fowler failed to break Spain’s resistance, they needed to be clinical in the tie-breaker. Shearer, David Platt, Stuart Pearce and Gascoigne scored all the spot-kicks while David Seaman saved the deciding one from Miguel Nadal to book a berth in the semifinals. However, England’s journey ended in another shoot-out against rivals Germany in the next stage with Southgate missing the crucial penalty.
Spain vs England Last Five Meetings
England 1-0 Spain - International Friendly (12 November 2011)
Spain 2-0 England - International Friendly (13 November 2015)
England 2-2 Netherlands - International Friendly (15 November 2016)
England 1-2 Spain - UEFA Nations League Group Stage (8 September 2018)
Spain 2-3 England - UEFA Nations League Group Stage (15 October 2018)
