As Sukhdev mentioned in the last blog entry I am a Spaniard. I am a middle aged Spaniard, so together with others of my generation I receive the World Cup with a mixture of hope and dread. Why dread, after Spain won the EuroCup 2008? Doesn't that mean that our jinx is finally over? Well, as Sukhdev pointed out I definitely do not want to tempt fate.
The history of Spain's participation in World Cups has been one of perennial disappointments. Always a favourite but never managing to make it to the semi-finals. And we have never "killed a giant" in the World Cup (Germany, Italy, France, Argentina) in living memory. Below is a summary of Spain's World Cup participations since 1982. Although Spain has qualified for every World Cup since 1978, the World Cup of Argentina 1978 caught me too young to remember (which is great because Spain crashed out in first round).
World Cup 1982
This World Cup was played in Spain (the only one ever held in Spain). We had everything in our favour, referees and public passion. We even beat England in a friendly at Wembley in the run-up to the tournament. What actually happened on the pitch was such an unmitigated disaster that it damaged Spanish football permanently, undermining the confidence of future generations of players and fans. By the way, the World Cup 1982 is something that is not mentioned in Spain, an act of national shame that we have all collectively decided to keep under the rug.
First round:
Spain 1, Honduras 1. Honduras scored first, Spain tied with a dubious penalty.
Spain 2, Yugoslavia 1. Yugoslavia scored first. Spain tied from an nonexistent penalty that the referee allowed to take twice because the Yugoslav goalkeeper moved. Then Spain finally scored the winner.
Spain 0, Northern Ireland 1. The embarrassment of a lifetime. The Peruvian referee did his best with a scandalous red card to a Northern Ireland player. Watch the YouTube link below. Arconada, what were you thinking?
YouTube Spain - Northern Ireland 1982
Second round. Yes in spite of the above we managed to go to the second round to play W. Germany and England in a three-team round robin format that was never tried again in World Cup tournaments.
W.Germany 2, Spain 1. Expected result.
Spain 0, England 0. Spain played this game already knowing it was out of the World Cup. Only consolation was that this result meant England was also out of the World Cup.
World Cup 1986
After the disaster of 1982, this World Cup in Mexico actually turned out to be a relief. The Spanish team had some up and coming players that were quite good (Butragueño, Michel).
First round:
Spain 0, Brazil 1. Spain played a good game and Michel scored a phantom goal that the referee missed out. But the Brazilians finally won the game with a goal from Socrates.
YouTube Spain Brazil 1986.
Spain 2, Northern Ireland 1. Rectification of 1982 disaster.
Spain 3, Algeria 0.
Second round:
Spain 5, Denmark 1. Probably the most satisfying memory. Spain was underdog against a very strong Denmark but in this game turned the tables completely around. The Danish defence gave away the first goal. Butragueño scored four goals in the game.
YouTube Spain Denmark 1986
Spain 1, Belgium 1. On this day that coincided with general elections (Socialists won second elections in a row) Spain was eliminated on penalties. Belgium scored in first half and Spain tied late in the second half. Spain played well and deserved better, this was very unlucky. A Spain - Argentina semifinal with a Spain with regained confidence would have been a great match.
YouTube Spain Belgium 1986
World Cup 1990
In this World Cup in Italy Spain arrived as a group head and one of the favourites with the players of 1986 now with international reputations.
First round:
Spain 0, Uruguay 0. The Uruguayans missed a penalty
Spain 3, South Korea 1. Michel scored all three goals.
Spain 2, Belgium 1. Revenge for 1986.
Second round.
Spain 1, Yugoslavia 2. With all the hopes up for a good Spanish team that disappointed, Yugoslavia scored first. Spain managed to tie again at the end of the game. But in extra-time our hero Michel decided while being an integral part of the defensive barrier in a free kick to keep his face intact rather that intercept the ball. See the YouTube video of this cowardly act. The Gods punished Yugoslavia with dissolution.
YouTube Spain Yugoslavia 1990
World Cup 1994
In this World Cup in USA, Spain played well. Most of the Spanish players let goatees grow on their faces to emulate the Conquistadores (why would you want to do that if you know history?). The Italian barbers shaved us in the quarterfinals.
First round:
Spain 1, Germany 1. Not bad, Spain even scored first. But the Germans were weak in this World Cup.
Spain 2, South Korea 2. It looked like we were repeating old habits.
Spain 3, Bolivia 1. Finally we won a game.
Second round:
Spain 3, Switzerland 0. Spain won with authority this match. Could this time be different?
Spain 1, Italy 2. This time was not different. But Spain played very well, this match could have gone the other way. Julio Salinas was left alone in front of the goalkeeper with 1-1 score. But he choked. That is why you are asking yourself: who is Julio Salinas? The Italian Tassoti elbowed Luis Enrique's face (breaking his nose) in the last minute. Referee did not see it.
YouTube Spain Italy 1994
World Cup 1998
In the French World Cup, big disappointment for Spain which did not reach the second round for the first time since 1978. The Spanish team roster was impressive.
First round:
Spain 2, Nigeria 3. Spain scored first, Nigeria tied and then Spain scored again (great goal by Raul), but then the Spanish goalkeeper Zubizarreta decided that African teams deserved a break and handed the victory to Nigeria.
YouTube Spain Nigeria 1998
Spain 0, Paraguay 0. The Paraguayan goalkeeper Chilabert craftily manipulated the Spaniard's psychology before the game.
Spain 6, Bulgaria 1. Too late, Spain was out.
World Cup 2002
In the World Cup played in South Korea and Japan the Spanish team found an Egyptian referee on its way to the semifinals. Seriously, that was a scandalous refereeing in the quarterfinal match against locals South Korea. Almost as bad as the refereeing Spain received in its favour in Spain 1982.
First round:
Spain 3, Slovenia 1.
Spain 3, Paraguay 1. Revenge of 1998. Spaniards are vengeful.
Spain 3, South Africa 2. Yes, we had won all three matches.
Second round:
Spain 1, Ireland 1. Spain won on penalties and used up the Gods' goodwill (which was missing in the next game). What the hell was Fernando Hierro thinking in that last-minute penalty he provoked? One of the Spanish players (Albelda) managed to twist his testicles on-field. How do you twist your testicles?
YouTube Spain Ireland 2002
Spain 0, South Korea 0. Spain kicked out on penalties and we lost a golden opportunity. The Egyptian referee followed FIFA's mandate to the full extent.
YouTube Spain S Korea 2002
YouTube Summary of Referee Decisions Spain S Korea 2002
World Cup 2006
In the World Cup in Germany hopes were up for an impressive Spanish roster. But Spain proved to have a much weaker mindset than France in the playoff match.
First round:
Spain 4, Ukraine 0. Great start.
Spain 3, Tunisia 1. Tunisia scored first and old phantoms were revived, but Raul helped turn the game around.
Spain 1, Saudi Arabia 0. For a second World Cup in a row Spain won every match in the first round. Surely this time would be different.
Second round:
Spain 1, France 3. Spain scored first and it looked like we were on our way. But the French were much tougher mentally and Spain crashed out.
YouTube Spain France 2006
After reading the above you can understand why Spaniards do not want to temp fate. But this time could really be different. First of course, it looks like the curse has been lifted with our victory in EuroCup 2008, in which we took out historical rivals like Italy and Germany. Secondly, the mental toughness of this new generation is very different. They cannot remember 1982 (which did so much damage to our psyche). In Basketball our national team showed that with teamwork and professionalism Spain can be world champion (champions in 2006). This beat down an often repeated argument that Spaniards are not good enough at team sports because they are too individualistic. Thirdly a lot of our players are enrolled in foreign leagues like Fernando Torres in Liverpool, so the players are arguably more sophisticated, international and competitive than previous generations.
I just hope we are able to put a good showing in the World Cup and crash out because we meet a better team, not because we lose confidence. Time will tell.
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