UEFA Euro 2024: match history between England and Spain at major international tournaments

England and Spain meet in Berlin on Sunday for the UEFA Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion, with the Spanish team chasing a record fourth continental title and the England side chasing their first-ever European crown. Obviously these two met in the Women’s World Cup final last summer, with La Roja beating the Lionesses 1-0 in Sydney for their first ever world title, but the men’s rivalry hasn’t had the same high-profile match for silverware – until now.

The Three Lions came close in 2020, finishing second, but the Spaniards won the title consecutively in 2008 and 2012 after their first success in 1964, having lost just one final, in 1984. The teams of Luis de la Fuente and Gareth Southgate have met in the past but not as often as many would expect for two major international men’s football powers, with a major spell in the early 2000s limited to friendlies in which Spain dominated between 2004 and 2016 with four wins from six on England.

We look at the key men’s encounters between these two ahead of this weekend’s grand final.

How to watch and odds

• Date: Sunday July 14 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
• Place: Olympiastadion – Berlin, Germany
• TV: Fox | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
• Chances: Spain +150; Sign +180; England +250

1950 World Cup

The first competitive meeting between these two took place at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, with both teams in Group 2 along with Chile and Joe Gaetjens’ American side. Spain won 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro thanks to a goal from Telmo Zarra in the Maracana, which secured first place, ahead of the other three by two points. However, the Spaniards would finish last in the final round with just one point from three games from a draw with eventual winners Uruguay. Result: Spain wins.

1968 euros

Eighteen years later, the Three Lions and La Roja meet again in Italy at Euro 68, with England winning both quarter-finals in a time when that stage of the tournament was played over two legs. A 1-0 win at Wembley thanks to Bobby Charlton was followed by a 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to Martin Peters and Norman Hunter canceling out Amancio’s opening goal, but England would be defeated in the semi-finals by defeated finalists Yugoslavia. Result: England wins.

€1980

After another twelve years, these two meet again and again in Italy at Euro 80, where Group 2 pairs them up. Unfortunately, despite a 2-1 win for the English, both teams went out in the group stage after finishing behind Belgium and their Italian hosts. Trevor Brooking and Tony Woodcock did the damage but it counted for little as they both went home as the Belgians went all the way to the final before losing to West Germany. Result: England wins.

1982 World Cup

Two years later, when the World Cup was hosted by Spain, these two found themselves together again in the group stage, having both advanced from the first group stage from groups four and five respectively. In Group B of the second group stage, along with West Germany, both the Three Lions and La Roja failed to advance with a goalless draw between them in Madrid, although the West Germans would win the final 3–1 losing to Italy. Result: To draw.

€1996

It would be 14 years before England and Spain met again in 1996 with the European Championship on English soil, with both teams crossing paths in the quarter-finals after progressing from their groups. A goalless draw at Wembley required penalties and it was the hosts who held their nerve to win 4-2, with the shootout perhaps best remembered during Stuart Pearce’s celebrations after successfully scoring from the spot, despite Paul Gascoigne actually sealed the victory 4-2 with his penalty. . The joy was short-lived, however, as Germany would inflict heartbreak on the home side from their semi-final spot on their way to victory via the first-ever golden goal. Result: England wins.

Country competition 2018-2019

Six years ago, England and Spain met in an early version of the UEFA Nations League, with the two playing together in Group A4. A 2-1 win for the Spaniards in London was canceled out by a 3-2 win for the English in Seville, helping the Three Lions top the group and progress to the final stages. However, a 3–1 extra time loss to the Netherlands saw Gareth Southgate’s side reach third place in the play-offs, which they won against Switzerland on penalties following a goalless draw. Result: To draw.

European Championship final 2024

There is no doubt that this weekend’s clash in Germany will be the biggest meeting between these two legendary nations. While the rivalry won’t be nearly as fierce as that with Germany, France or possibly even Italy, it will be huge on both sides. Spain could become the most mentioned Euro nation with their fourth win, while England would ultimately be right next to them if they were to triumph in Berlin. Result: To be determined.