El Allianz Arena Munich will witness the first semi-final of the Euro Cup. Spain and France They are going to play for their presence in the final in Berlin. It would be the fourth for Spain (three wins) and the fourth for the French (two wins). And it is much more, because the capital of Bavaria Two football schools of national teams that have dominated European football for decades are going to collide.
At the highest part of the pyramid, that of the absolute teams, there are no other teams other than them that have covered all the gaps in the highest level competitions that are played. France has two World Cups (1998 and 2028), two Eurocopas (1984 and 2000) and the Nations League of 2021, the one that beat Spain at San Siro with the controversial goal of Mbappé granted by Michael Oliver.
On the Spanish side are the South Africa World Cup (2010), the three Eurocopas (1964, 2008 and 2012) and the latest edition of the Nationsthat of the penalty shootout in Rotterdam.
Generation after generation
The rivalry between Spain and France It is something that is cultivated from the base of that pyramid. Since the players arrive at Las Rozas In the lower categories, matches against France They form a crucial part of your training. For decades there have been many titles resolved between the two nations. Because the two Federations have titles in each and one of the UEFA categories. Spain more than anyone.
since kids
Between 1982 and 2001, UEFA started its European Championships with the under 16s, a category that would become under 17s. The last final for under 16s was the first in the category between the Spanish and French. It was in the Stadium of Ligth of Sunderland and fell to the Spanish side thanks to a goal from Fernando Torres.
In 2004, France was European under-17 champion for the first time. In the final they defeated Spain 2-1 by scoring Nasri the decisive goal after Pique empathize.
In 2008, the final in Antalaya (Türkiye)it was a Spanish hurricane: 4-0 with Thiago at the command of Spain Quick and easy.
In the record of that category, Spain triples France’s crowns: nine-three.
Sub 19, the great battle
It is in that category in which the Spanish-French duel is most intense. Spain dominates the record with authority: nine conquests since UEFA counts the current format (1980-82 tournament). On the French side there are six victories.
In between Spain and France There are only two finals, both played on French soil and won by The little blue ones. The first, in 1996, when a goal from Thierry Henry resolved the final in Besançon. The other was weeks after the final in South Africa. In Caen, Rodrigo Moreno put Spain ahead, but five minutes from time, Lacazette gave the French glory.
Sub 21, there is no color
At the gates of the absolute team there are no teams like Spain and Italy. Each has five titles, with four finals lost by the Spanish and two by the light blue. There is no connection between Spanish and French in the final history. France’s only title was in 1988, against Greece when the final was played over two legs, and its lost final dates back to 2002, against the Czech Republic and in the penalty shootout.
At the World level there is no sub 17
Both Olympic champions, Spain in Barcelona 92 and France in Los Angeles in 1984, when the radar is expanded to lower categories there is a gap on the Spanish side. In it Football City Museum The U-17 World Cup is missing, the tournament that Spain is resisting. He won silver four times: 1991, 2003, 2007 and 2017.
That space is occupied France thanks to his victory in 2001 in Trinidad and Tobago.
