This was his victory the first year it was celebrated

• Neither Iniesta nor Casillas: this is the Spanish player who has played the most minutes in the Euro Cup
• The country that never managed to qualify for the Euro Cup and deals with the sin of having conceded the greatest number of goals

The teams of the old continent sharpen weapons to face the Euro 2024the seventeenth edition of the tournament, which is celebrated in Germany for the second time in history (1988). With Italy as defending championsSpain will go in search of its fourth championship with Luis de la Fuente facing his first big challenge after winning the UEFA Nations League.

Spain took the title with Del Bosque in 2012, four years after the historic triumph with Luis Aragonés in 2008. Much earlier, in 1964, José Villalonga’s team achieved the first joy in the history of the national team, hosting the second edition of the Euro Cup that was taking place. Four years earlier, in 1960, Spain was the protagonist of what was, to say the least, a curious and memorable moment.

The ‘ghost’ country that won a Euro Cup in 1960: this was its victory the first year the tournament was held

The first European Championship was held in 1960.. With notable absences such as Germany (Federal), Italy and England, the tournament had a qualifying phase with round-trip matches, played with each team having a home match in their country. So, Spain managed to beat Polandwinning 2-4 in the first leg before 3-0 at the Bernabéu to access a quarterfinal that he did not get to play.

The USSR was the rival that the Spanish team faced, and Franco vetoed the presence of the Soviet team in Spain, so it was automatically deleted. The Soviet Union thus entered the final phase of the tournament, which took place in France, where they won in the semifinals. to Czechoslovakia 3-0 before becoming champion of the first Euro Cup that was played by beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final with a goal in extra time by Ponedelnik.

The mythical Lev Yashin, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football, was the main visible face of the Soviets. Still with him in goal, four years later yes they were able to enter Spainorganizer of the final phase of the 1964 Euro, reaching the final but losing against the hosts by 2-1 with goals from Pereda and Marcelino for the Spanish team.