Spain taking on France has been one of the top fixtures to look for in Euro history. Often the winner of the tie has gone on to wear the crown at the end. The first meeting between the sides came in the Euro 1984 final but the fixture has become less often in recent editions. Les Bleus has hugely dominated this fixture but La Roja has become a force this century. The pair will battle for the fifth time in the semifinals of the Euro 2024 with the winner might be the favourites to win the tournament in Germany.
Here are all the Euro meetings between Spain and France so far:
France 2-0 Spain - Euro 1984 Final (27 June 1984)
Spain and France met for the first time in the Euro 1984 showpiece without losing a game. La Roja were in their second final after winning the earlier one in 1964 while Les Bleus reached the decider for the first time in just the second Euro appearance. Ultimately, the title was seized by France after their second-half exploits saw Michel Platini score his record ninth strike in a single tournament and Bruno Bellone chipping Luis Arconada to seal a historic win. Defender Yvon Le Roux was dismissed after receiving a second yellow before the second goal but it did not matter at the end for the victors.
France 1-1 Spain - Euro 1996 Group Stage (15 June 1996)
The duo faced each other again two editions later in the group stage. It was the second game of the group with Spain entering the contest having only played a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria while France picked up a narrow 1-0 win over Romania. Hence, the clash almost became a group decider and it ended in a draw after Youri Djorkaeff 48th minute strike for the French side containing Zinedine Zidane, captain Didier Deschamps and others was cut off by Jose Caminero in the 85th minute. The Spanish team containing the future boss Luis Enrique ended up finishing second two points behind group winners Les Bleus but both advanced to the knockouts.
France 2-1 Spain - Euro 2000 Quarterfinal (25 June 2000)
Carrying the core of the 1996 squad with the addition of a hot talent in Thierry Henry, France took on Spain boasting one of the best managers in Pep Guardiola back then in the Euro 2000 quarterfinals. La Roja won their group while Roger Lemerre’s managed team ended as runners-up behind co-host Netherlands. However, France turned up the occasion when it mattered, defeating their last-eight opponent with a 2-1 win. All goals came in the first half with Zidane putting Les Bleus ahead in the 32nd minute which was cancelled by Gaizka Mendieta’s spot-kick six minutes later. On the stroke of halftime, Djorkaeff smashed in the winner with his second strike in this fixture in back-to-back Euros. He also helped his side crowned champions for the second time defeating Italy with the same result in the final.
Spain 2-0 France - Euro 2012 Quarterfinal (23 June 2012)
The last meeting in the European Championship was also in the quarterfinal stage in 2012. This time Spain had some redemption in their era of dominance in the tournament and international football. Managed by Vicente del Bosque, La Roja dazzled at Donetsk with current Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso scoring a remarkable brace in the 2-0 win over the French side containing Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery on his century cap. Captained by Iker Casillas, the Golden Generation claimed their first win in this fixture at the Euros and became the first side to retain the title by completing an unprecedented three-peat in international football history.
