Spain appears to be on an unstoppable path. Their recent 2-0 triumph over France solidified a remarkable streak of 37 games without a loss in either regular or extra time, a record that now matches the best run by any European team, according to Opta. However, it’s worth noting that Spain did suffer a defeat in the final of the 2025 Nations League against Portugal, losing on penalties.
This unbeaten stretch parallels Italy’s impressive record from October 2018 to September 2021, which included their victory in Euro 2020. Unlike Spain, Italy’s run was genuinely unbeaten, making their achievement unique.
No South American team has managed such a long unbeaten streak. Brazil had a 36-match stretch without defeat from December 1993 to January 1996, during which they secured a World Cup title. Argentina matched this feat from July 2019 to November 2022, although their run was notably interrupted by a surprising loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar. Nonetheless, they made a remarkable comeback to claim the world championship.
Spain’s Historical Context
Spain’s current success is not surprising when considering their historical prowess. They have been the architects of six out of 11 instances where a European nation has gone at least 25 games unbeaten. Five of these unbeaten periods occurred within the last 22 years, highlighting Spain’s dominance on the international scene.
Several players boast impressive records within this unbeaten stretch. Fabián Ruiz, for instance, has represented Spain 49 times without a loss (excluding penalty shootouts). Despite his talents, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder does not rank among the top five for minutes played during this ongoing unbeaten run.
Leading the charge is Marc Cucurella, supported by Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Lamine Yamal, and Mikel Oyarzabal, who have been pivotal to coach Luis de la Fuente’s strategy. De la Fuente has fielded 62 players throughout these 37 matches, illustrating the depth of talent available to him.
Assessing the Unbeaten Streak
The 1-0 defeat to Colombia at the London Stadium in March 2024 marked the beginning of Spain’s current unbeaten run. While this streak includes victories over less formidable European opponents in qualifying matches, it also features 11 games against top-tier teams such as Brazil, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
Argentina, meanwhile, boasts an unbeaten record of 14 matches, having won every single one. However, they have also faced three defeats since Spain’s last loss, emphasizing the historical weight that favors De la Fuente’s squad in the upcoming final.
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