New finalists and familiar title contenders face off at expanded Euros
Spain are seeking to reassert their old supremacy following humiliating blowout at World Cup in Brazil, but the challenge will be tough in France
The European Championship enters a new era with Spain seeking to reassert its old supremacy.
Invincible between 2008 and 2012 while claiming back-to-back European titles and finally tasting World Cup glory, the Spanish halo slipped two years ago with a humiliating blowout in Brazil.
How better to show that the first-round elimination in 2014 was just a blip than by completing a hat-trick of European titles in Paris on July 10.
We want to get rid of whatever happened in the past and face the future
It will be a tougher challenge than before, with the Euros growing by eight teams to 24 in France.
Although Spain’s national team has not collected a trophy since Euro 2012, domestic clubs have swept up continental trophies for the three seasons.
The Champions League has been won by Real Madrid (twice) and Barcelona while Sevilla completed a hat trick of Europa League titles in May.
The sternest challenges in France for Vicente del Bosque’s team are likely to come from World Cup holders Germany and the host nation, boasting a talented young squad but whose plans have been derailed – as so often – by off-field controversy.