IMAGO/Ulmer

EURO 2024: Spain vs. Italy, A Historic Rivalry in Photos

30. May 202410. September 2024By The Game Magazine
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Watch some unforgettable moments from the Spain vs. Italy EURO rivalry since the 1980s with the IMAGO archive as these two teams face off once again in the EURO 2024 group stage.

The UEFA European Championship has been the stage for countless unforgettable rivalries, and Spain versus Italy is among the most memorable ones. Both teams have a rich football heritage and have introduced some of the greatest players in history.  As they meet again in the EURO 2024 group stage, THE GAME MAGAZINE takes you on a visual journey through the history of the Spain vs. Italy EURO rivalry: the key matches and memorable moments captured by our storytellers via the IMAGO archive.

Watch the rivalries between Spain and Italy in EURO history through the IMAGO archive.

Early Encounters: Foundations of a Rivalry

Spain vs. Italy EURO 1988
IMAGO / Sven Simon | Spain vs. Italy Rivalry: Teams stand poised during national anthems at EURO 1988 in Frankfurt.
Spain vs. Italy EURO 1980
IMAGO / Sven Simon | Bernardo Migueli (Spain) with a bicycle kick, Roberto Bettega (Italy) in the background. UEFA Euro 1980 Men’s Football, Italy vs. Spain 0:0, Milan, Italy.
Spain vs. Italy EURO 1980
IMAGO / Sven Simon | Jose Maria Bakero (Spain, left), alongside Riccardo Ferri (Italy). UEFA Euro 1988 Men’s, Group A, Italy vs. Spain 1:0, Frankfurt, Germany. UEFA Euro 1988. Frankfurt, Germany.
Spain EURO 1988
IMAGO / Sven Simon | A female Spanish fan waves the Spanish flag during EURO 1988, Spain Italy in Frankfurt.
Spain vs. Italy EURO 1988
IMAGO / Sven Simon | Gianluca Vialli of Italy scores the decisive goal, leading to a 1-0 victory against Spain at EURO 1988 in Frankfurt.
Spain vs. Italy EURO 1988
IMAGO / Sven Simon | Italian Fans Celebrate: Cheers and joy fill the air as Italy secures victory over Spain 1-0 at EURO 1988 in Frankfurt.
Italy EURO 1988
IMAGO / Sven Simon | The Italian players celebrate after Gianluca Vialli’s goal. Italy (ITA) – Spain (ESP) 1:0, UEFA Euro 1988 Football Championship in Germany, June 14, 1988, at Waldstadion Frankfurt.

The Turning Point: EURO 2008

IMAGO/GEPA pictures
IMAGO / GEPA pictures | Football fans from Spain (left) and Italy, wrapped in their national flags, await the UEFA Euro 2008 Quarter Final match between their respective national teams.
Spain Italy EURO 2008
IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Steeve McMay | Euro 2008, Quarter Final: Italy’s captain goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Spain’s captain goalkeeper Iker Casillas during the UEFA European Championship. Spain prevailed 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in extra time. Spain vs Italy at Stadium in Vienna, Austria on June 22, 2008.
IMAGO/ABACAPRESS
IMAGO / ABACAPRESS / Steeve McMay | Euro 2008 Quarter Final: Italy’s captain goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon makes a crucial save during the UEFA European Championship. Spain vs Italy at Ernst-Happel Stadium in Vienna, Austria on June 22, 2008.
imago sportfotodienst
IMAGO / Team 2 | David Villa (Spain, right) takes on Christian Panucci (Italy) during the UEFA Euro 2008 Men’s Football, Spain vs. Italy, Quarter Final, Vienna.
Spain Italy EURO 2008
IMAGO / MIS | Goalkeeper Iker Casillas (Spain) saves during the UEFA Euro 2008 Men’s Football in Vienna. Spain prevailed 4-2 on penalties after a goalless draw in extra time.
Spain EURO 2008
IMAGO / GEPA pictures | Closing celebration: Spain’s Goalkeeper Iker Casillas and the Spanish team celebrate winning the EURO 2008 against Italy.

EURO 2012: The Ultimate Showdown

Spain vs. Italy EURO 2012
IMAGO / Ulmer | UEFA EURO 2012: Spain vs. Italy. June 10, 2012. Andres Iniesta (center, Spain) battles against Italians Christian Maggio (2), Claudio Marchisio (8), Leonardo Bonucci (19), Giorgio Chiellini (3), and Thiago Motta (5).
Mario Balotelli EURO 2012
IMAGO / Moritz Müller | Kiev, July 1, 2012. The shoes of Mario Balotelli (Italy) during the Spain vs. Italy match.
Spain Italy 2012
IMAGO / Sven Simon | Leonardo Bonucci (ITA) watches as Fernando Torres (ESP, not pictured) scores the goal to make it 3-0 against Italy. Kiev, UEFA EURO 2012.
Spain Italy UEFA EURO 2012
IMAGO / AFLOSPORT | Left to Right: Fernando Torres, Juan Mata, Sergio Ramos, Fernando Llorente, Andres Iniesta (ESP) – July 1, 2012. Football Soccer: UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy, Spain winning 4-0 at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.
Spain vs. Italy EURO 2012
IMAGO / Xinhua | Sergio Ramos of Spain celebrates after the Euro 2012 football championship final match between Italy and Spain in Kiev, July 1, 2012. Spain’s 4-0 victory secured the title.
Spain vs. Italy
IMAGO / Xinhua | Fernando Torres (R) of Spain interacts with children after the Euro 2012 football championship final match between Italy and Spain in Kiev, Ukraine, July 1, 2012. Spain’s 4-0 victory secured the title.

EURO 2016 and Looking Ahead EURO 2024

Spain vs. Italy 2016
IMAGO / Sportimage / David Klein | EURO 2016: Italy vs. Spain. Alessandro Florenzi (Italy) evades Sergio Ramos (Spain) during the UEFA European Championship at Stade de France, Paris. June 27, 2016.
Spain vs. Italy 2016
IMAGO / Agencia EFE | EURO 2016: Italy vs. Spain – Italy scores against Spain goalkeeper during the round of 16 match at Stade de Saint-Denis, Paris, June 27, 2016.
Spain vs. Italy EURO 2016
IMAGO / Agencia EFE | EURO 2016: Italy vs. Spain. The round of 16 match at Stade de Saint-Denis, Paris, June 27, 2016. Editorial use only. Italy vs. Spain.
EURO 2016 Final
IMAGO / Ulmer / Teamfoto | Italy vs. Spain. Football EURO 2016 Round of 16 in Paris. June 27, 2016. Italy celebrates the title after the final whistle.
EURO 2016
IMAGO / Uwe Kraft | Italy vs. Spain. Football, European Championship, Men’s, EURO 2016 France, Stade de France Saint-Denis. Round of 16: Italy vs. Spain 2-0; Gianluigi Buffon (ITA) celebrates at the crossbar.

The credit of cover photo: IMAGO / Contrast

Discover THE GAME MAGAZINE’s EURO 2024 Special Edition.

See IMAGO exclusive EURO 2024 collections.

Read The Last Dance of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Delve into the world of UEFA EURO 2024 with IMAGO ZINE.

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