The team is governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation in Spain. It is under the global jurisdiction of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Union of European Football Association (UEFA) in Europe. The team is managed by Luis Enrique and captained by Sergio Busquets. The team has no official home stadium but plays home matches at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Camp Nou and Montjuïc stadiums in Barcelona, Pizjuán and Villamarín stadiums in Seville, and Mestalla and Orriols stadiums in Valencia.
Spain is one of the 8 teams ever to win the FIFA World Cup at least once. It is the first European team to win the World Cup outside of Europe and also to win three major international titles consecutively. It also became the first and only team to win the European Championship back-to-back. These titles were achieved during what is known as the golden period in Spanish football history. The period, 2008-12, saw the team win the 2008 European Championship, its first major international title after a gap of 44 years. In 2010, the team won its first World Cup title in South Africa. In 2012, the team won its second consecutive European title. During this period, the team also went undefeated for 35 matches, sharing the record with Brazil. Many believe the Spanish team between 2008-12 was the best ever international side in world football.
What is the Tiki-Taka style of play
The Spanish team’s success was a result of its style of play. La Furia Roja (Red Fury in Spanish) as the Spanish team is commonly known, used the tiki-taka style of play successfully during its golden period. Tiki-taka is based on the idea of possession of the ball, short-passing, and player movement. This style is associated with flair, creativity, and one-touch football. However, many believe it can also at times sacrifice effectiveness for aesthetics.
History of Spain national football team
Spain has been a member of FIFA since the world body’s foundation in 1904, but the Spanish Football Federation wasn’t formed until 1909. The first official team was constituted in 1920 with the aim of participating in the 1920 Summer Olympics where La Furia Roja managed to win a silver medal. In 1934, the team qualified for its first FIFA World Cup. Between the 1934 World Cup and the 1950 World Cup, the team could not play any competitive match because of the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
Spain at the FIFA World Cup
Spain’s first World Cup campaign was in 1934. In the 1950 World Cup, the team finished fourth. Till 2010, this was the team’s best-ever performance in a World Cup campaign. The first world title came in 2010 when the team defeated Netherlands 1-0 in the finals, with which it became the first European team to win the title outside of Europe. The team has qualified for 15 out of the 21 World Cup tournaments, participating consistently since 1978.
In the 2018 World Cup tournament, the team failed to progress after the round of 16.
Spain at the UEFA European Championship
The team has won three titles in 1964, 2008, and 2012. It is the only team to win back-to-back European titles. The team has qualified for 11 European campaigns, including the Euro 2020. In the Euro 2016, the team was eliminated in the round of 16.
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