The two magical decades of Spain’s national teams | OneFootball

Over the past 21 years Spain’s national teams have enjoyed a golden age, with seven World Cup golds, two silvers and six bronzes, El Periódico Mediterráneo reports.

Handball lit the fuse, with the men winning World Cups in 2005 and 2013, plus bronzes in 2011, 2021 and 2023. The women took bronze in 2011 and silver in 2019, denied gold by a late seven metre against the Netherlands.

Basketball followed suit, taking gold in 2006 under Pepu Hernández and again in 2019 with Sergio Scariolo. The women added bronze in 2010, silver in 2014 and bronze in 2018.

Football arrived late but now leads. In 2010, after a 1-0 loss to Switzerland, Spain beat Honduras and Chile, then edged Portugal and Paraguay 1-0, Iker Casillas saving Cardozo’s penalty. Puyol sank Germany and Iniesta won the final in the 116th minute against the Netherlands.

Sixteen years on, Luis de la Fuente’s side reclaimed the crown. After a 0-0 with Cape Verde, they beat Saudi Arabia, then brushed aside Austria 3-0. Mikel Merino ousted Portugal 1-0, Belgium were beaten 2-1, and Ferran Torres won the final against Argentina in the 106th minute, with only De Keteleare beating Unai Simón.

The women completed the story in 2023. Wins over Costa Rica 3-0 and Zambia 5-0 preceded a 4-0 loss to Japan, then Spain beat Switzerland 5-1, edged the Netherlands 2-1 after extra time and Sweden 2-1, before Olga Carmona downed England 1-0. Further podiums arrived in futsal, roller and field hockey, water polo, beach handball, 3x3 and beach soccer.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo