⚽ Spain – Key statistics from the Euro Cup ⚽
Appearances in euros: eleven
European titles: 3
Best finish: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)
Euro record: W21 E15 P10
Goals scored: 68
Biggest victory: 5-0 (against Slovakia in Euro 2020)
Player to watch: Lamina Yamal
World ranking: eighth
Group calendar:
- June, 15: Spain vs Croatia (Olympiastadion, Berlin, 18:00 local time/16:00 GMT)
- June 20th: Spain vs Italy (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 21:00 local time/19:00 GMT)
- June 24: Albania vs Spain (Dusseldorf Arena, Düsseldorf, 21:00 local time/19:00 GMT)
How to follow our Euro 2024 coverage: Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera
The tameness of Spain's dramatic exit from the 2022 Qatar World Cup has overshadowed what has been a relatively successful period for the star-studded team.
Spain reached the semifinals of Euro 2020, where they were eliminated on penalties by eventual champion Italy.
In June 2023, they won the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League, their first title since the team's memorable triumph at Euro 2012.
The Nations League victory was significant for three main reasons.
First, beating Croatia in the final on penalties exorcised the demons of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Spain surprisingly failed to score a single penalty in their elimination in the round of 16 against Morocco.
Secondly, there were big doses of confidence after a late victory over Italy in the Nations League semi-final and the victory over Italy and Croatia, who are in the same Euro 2024 group as Spain.
Thirdly, the fact that the new Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente, tried the cutlery at the beginning of his reign guaranteed the acceptance of his players ahead of Euro 2024.
Smells like Teen Spirit
De la Fuente is no stranger to success with the national team.
He won the European Championship with the Spanish under-19 and under-23 teams and led the team that won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
It is therefore no surprise that the team he picked for Euro 2024 is young and hungry for success.
Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, 16, has made the cut, while his La Masia teammate Fermín López, 21, has earned his first call-up to the national team.
Twenty-one-year-old Pedri and Nico Williams also feature in De la Fuente's 26-man squad.
Yamal will almost certainly start for Spain at Euro 2024 and, in doing so, will become the youngest player to appear in the European championship.
The sublimely talented winger has already set a list of extraordinary records in his young career: the youngest goalscorer for his club Barcelona, the youngest goalscorer in LaLiga history and the youngest goalscorer for the Spanish national team.
While Yamal is the main attraction of this Spanish team, its most important player is Manchester City star Rodri.
The 27-year-old defensive midfielder has become the de facto leader of the national team.
His midfield partnership with Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi – a duo De la Fuente dubbed “the best midfielders in the world in their position” – will be key to Spain's chances at the Euros.
Villarreal's Alex Baena, who has the most assists in LaLiga this season, and Aleix García, a key member of Girona's Champions League qualifying campaign, are other good options that De la Fuente can call on in the center of the field.
One step forward, one step back
The center forward is a cause of concern for Spain.
Álvaro Morata will lead the line-up in Germany, but the Atlético Madrid striker's form has slipped after a good start to the season. He has only scored two goals since the beginning of March.
Joselu has scored a respectable 17 goals for Real Madrid this season, including an impressive brace against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, but he is far from a bankable option in international matches.
Given the composition of the Spanish team, which in addition to having a lot of youth also includes seven players over 30 years old, it is difficult to predict in which direction their campaign will lean.
Entering Euro 2024 in Germany as an almost unknown entity under a new coach making his debut in a major tournament could end up working in Spain's favor.
⚽ Spain's definitive squad for Euro 2024 ⚽
Captain: Alvaro Morata
Goalkeepers: Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal), Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Nacho Fernández (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Dani Vivián (Athletic Bilbao), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Rodrigo (Manchester City), Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Fabián Ruiz (Paris St Germain), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermín López (Barcelona)
Forward: Álvaro Morata (Atlético de Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
You can follow the action on Al Jazeera's dedicated Euro 2024 tournament page with all the match build-ups and live text commentary, and stay up to date with the group standings and real-time match results and times.
