Scribes in every corner of the world Monday will be plastered with images of England's all-too-familiar Euro heartbreak, and justifiably so. But between those stories, it could be lost just how dominant Spain was through four weeks of soccer.
This Spanish team was more dominant than the Xavi and Iniesta-led teams that won back-to-back Euro titles in 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.
First, Luis de la Fuente's men scored 15 goals en route to the title, the most by any nation at a Euro event.
1 - #Spain is the nation with the most European Championship titles (4), beating the record for most goals scored by a single team in a single edition of the competition (15). History.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/hJqYcYZ4Sd
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 14, 2024
Second, Spain won all seven matches at Euro 2024, becoming the first European country to win as many matches at a Euro or World Cup and just the second overall, along with Brazil at the 2002 World Cup. It also became the first team since France in 1984 to maintain a 100% win rate at the Euros.
7/7 - #Spain won all their 7 matches played at #EURO2024, becoming only the second team in the history of the EUROs to win the trophy while maintaining a 100% win rate since the introduction of the group stage (1980), after France in 1984 (5/5). Invincibles. pic.twitter.com/Cucfa5CYR3
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 14, 2024
In comparison, the 2008 La Roja dominated the group stage but needed a penalty shootout to beat Italy in the quarterfinals, and the 2010 squad won four out of its six games.
It should be noted those Spanish teams played in a 16-team format that did not include a Round of 16 tie. As such, the 2024 team had the advantage of one additional game to reach seven victories.
However, this iteration of La Roja was not projected to be a juggernaut at the start of Euro 2024. Following their disappointing showing in the 2022 World Cup, many viewed them as an underdog against powerhouses such as France, Germany and England.
That's why their dominant run was a little out of left field, and all the more impressive. With 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and 22-year-old Nico Williams already getting a taste of silverware, we could be on the brink of another Spanish dynasty just a decade removed from the last one.
Goals (15)
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 15, 2024
Assist leader (Yamal, 4)
Joint top scorer (Olmo, 3)
Tackles (88)
Balls recovered (290)
Clean sheets (3)
Possession (58.2%)
Passing accuracy (90.2%)
It’s hard to argue with Spain’s performance at the Euros pic.twitter.com/lXzgPbcMOt
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