The Three Lions face former World and European Champions Spain at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday evening.
As England clash with Julen Lopetegui’s Spain at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday evening, it is perhaps forgotten that the Three Lions won all seven of the two nations’ encounters between 1960 and 1980.
With the visit of former World and European Champions La Roja to the home of football, The hosts’ record is nonetheless impressive, despite losing four of the last five meetings.
In 24 games between the sides, England have won 13 times and lost nine. Here are some of the most memorable England versus Spain encounters.
3 May 1968: Spain 1-2 England. European Championships Quarter-Final, Madrid, Spain.
England’s record versus Spanish opposition at the European Championships is remarkably, flawless given the illustrious recent history of their opponents. The Three Lions have won all four of their meetings with Spain.
On this occasion in front of 120,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu, Sir Alf Ramsey’s men reached the semi-finals of the 1968 European Championships with a 2-1 victory in the Spanish capital.
Goals from Martin Peters and Norman Hunter gave the then World Champions England passage to the competition’s last four in Italy.
Ramsey’s side however went on to lose in Florence to Yugoslavia, failing to achieve a second successive major tournament final. Italy won the tournament.
22 June 1996: England 0-0 Spain (England win 4-2 on pens) European Championships Quarter-Final, Wembley Stadium, London.
Fast-forward almost thirty years to a balmy afternoon in June during Euro ’96. As the host nation witnessed the beautiful game come home, England’s reward for topping their group head of the Netherlands, was a last eight clash with Javier Clemente’s Spain.
With Terry Venables’ side seeking to end a 30-year wait for a major trophy, both sides played out a lively encounter and had chances to win the game during the 90 minutes.
After a nervy period of extra time, the contest went to a penalty shoot-out – England’s first since their Italia ’90 heartache versus West Germany.
Following David Seaman’s penalty heroics against both Scotland and Switzerland earlier in the competition and also during normal time, the hopes of a nation rested on the English stopper’s shoulders.
As Alan Shearer gave the hosts the advantage with the first attempt, Spain’s Fernando Hierro crashed his effort onto the bar. When both David Platt, Stuart Pearce – with his now infamous celebration – and Paul Gascoigne solidified the lead, Miguel Angel Nadal had to score to extend the shoot-out.
As the Spaniard stepped up, Seaman dived to his left to stop with his forearm, sending Wembley and the rest of the country into ecstasy.
For four days at least….
12 November 2011: England 1-0 Spain, International Friendly, Wembley Stadium, London.
Fresh from their Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup wins, La Roja came to town almost five years to the day to face an England side who had just qualified for Euro 2012.
Few expected Fabio Capello’s men to put up any sort of fight versus a midfield containing the likes Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and David Silva. Despite being only a friendly meeting however, the hosts silenced their doubters with a determined display.
As expected, Spain dominated possession but created little and were marshaled effortlessly by Scott Parker.
Indeed four minutes after the break it was England who took the lead courtesy of Frank Lampard’s follow-up to Darren Bent’s effort that hit the bar.
The visitors doubled their efforts in the final quarter of the game but were denied by both the woodwork but also a English defence bent on victory.
An all-round heroic team display saw England hold out and record an historic 1-0 victory against all the odds, to make the fans believe once more.
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