The 1996 UEFA European Championship, hosted by England, marked a significant chapter for the Spanish National Team, as they sought to reclaim their status as a European football powerhouse. Managed by Javier Clemente, Spain entered the tournament with a talented squad that included stars like Fernando Hierro, Raúl González, and Alfonso Pérez.
Spain was placed in Group D alongside England, Croatia, and Portugal. They kicked off their campaign on June 12, 1996, facing Germany in a challenging opener that ended in a 2-0 loss. Despite this setback, Spain regrouped and went on to secure a convincing 3-1 victory against Russia on June 16, with goals from Raúl, Fernando Hierro, and Alfonso.
In their final group match, Spain faced Croatia on June 22 and secured a 1-0 win, courtesy of a goal from Raúl, which allowed them to finish second in the group and advance to the knockout stage.
In the quarter-finals, held on June 26, Spain faced England at Wembley Stadium in a tense match that ended in a 0-0 draw after extra time. The match proceeded to penalties, where Spain fell short, losing 4-2 in the shootout.
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