Historical rivalry between the French and Spanish national football teams

The football rivalry between France and Spain spans decades, featuring iconic players such as Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Andres Iniesta, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal. A notable historical encounter occurred during the 2006 World Cup, where France defeated Spain 3-1 in the round of 16. Historically, France held a competitive advantage, winning the Euro 1984 final and the Euro 2000 quarter-final. However, the balance shifted in later years as Spain eliminated France in Euro 2012. More recently, Spain defeated France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, a match highlighted by a significant performance from Lamine Yamal. This was followed by a 5-4 victory for Spain in the Nations League. France is now competing in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals.