Euro 2020 Spain Specials

Spain head into Euro 2020 having qualified from the group stages in five of the last six European Championships and the three-time winners are tipped at 2/5 to win Group E. They’ll face three sides confident of progressing themselves in Sweden, Slovakia and Poland, yet none of their opponents should pose too much of a threat for La Roja.

Having beaten Sweden on their way to glory at Euro 2008, it will be the first time Spain have met either Poland or Slovakia at a major tournament. Whilst their opposition may be unfamiliar, their surroundings will not be, as the 2010 World Cup winners are set to play all three group matches in front of home supporters.

One of the 12 nations chosen to hold the pan-European competition, the matches due to be held in Spain were moved from Bilbao to Seville, over concerns relating to whether or not fans would be allowed to attend.

It will be the first time since the World Cup in 1982 that Spain will play a tournament match on home soil and with a front line boasting attacking talents like Ferran Torres, Adama Traore and Alvaro Morata, La Roja are a healthy 15/8 to win all of their group games this summer.

The only remaining player from their World Cup win in 2010, Barcelona midfielder, Sergio Busquets is tipped as the favourite to pick up the most booking points in the Spanish squad.

A beating heart of the Spanish midfield for over a decade, Busquets has been shown at least one yellow card in four of his five tournament appearances as a player and is priced at 11/2 to receive the most booking points for La Roja.

Whilst there may be a few major tournament debutants in the Spain set-up, another Barcelona veteran in Jordi Alba is a 13/2 pick for the most booking points and fresh from his six yellow cards in City’s successful Premier League campaign, Rodri is an 8/1 shout.

Heralded as the best team in international football not too long ago, Spain haven’t made it past the round-of-16 in any of the last three major tournaments. Despite this woeful recent record, their progression into the quarter-finals will most likely be a formality should they win their group, as they’ll be drawn up against one of the best third-placed sides.

Two of Villarreal’s 11 successful penalty takers from the Europa League final against Manchester United are in the Spanish squad and they’re priced at 4/1 to win a shootout at any point during the tournament.

However, should they make it to their first quarter-final since 2012, a potential matchup with one of England, France, Germany or Portugal will most likely await. If it is to be the Three Lions’ meeting Spain in Rome on July 3, Enrique will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their quarter-final meeting at Euro 1996.

A side featuring current England boss Gareth Southgate, the host nation beat Spain on penalties and La Roja are 14/1 to be eliminated by a shootout at the same stage this year.

Only Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema scored more goals than Spanish striker, Gerard Moreno this season, whose 30 goals in all competitions helped Villarreal to a seventh-place La Liga finish and a first-ever Europa League triumph.

The 29-year-old should feature in Spain’s attack, with the Euro 2008 and 2012 winners looking to better holders Portugal’s tally of nine goals throughout the tournament in 2016. It was the lowest total for a winning side since Greece scored seven in 2004 and Spain are priced at 8/13 to score 9+ goals at Euro 2020.

We expect Enrique’s side to be fluent upfront, but it could be their weaknesses at the back that let them down this summer. Without their talismanic captain, Sergio Ramos for the first international tournament since Euro 2004, Spain’s patched up defence could suffer from a lack of organisation as the tournament progresses.

They have welcomed the addition of French-born centre-back, Aymeric Laporte to their ranks, yet without a senior international appearance to his name, it may take the Manchester City defender some time to settle. Don’t be surprised to see Spain ship a few at Euro 2020 and they’re 11/10 to concede over 4.5 goals.