Spain’s defence of their European Championship titles from 2008 and 2012 remains unmatched in the competition’s history with no other side retaining the trophy before or since.
However, in the following years La Roja have struggled to match that level, with no final appearances at either a European Championship or a World Cup in the last decade.
Luis de la Fuente’s promotion from Under-21s head coach to replace Luis Enrique has offered a different approach for the squad and they won seven from eight games in Euro 2024 qualification.
Despite not having the world-class Barcelona talents of previous years, De la Fuente can call on the some emerging stars plying their club trade in Catalonia, including Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, but Gavi will miss out due to injury.
MORE: Who has qualified for Euro 2024?
Spain were drawn in Group B as one of six top seeds in pot one. That status did not do them too many favours
Croatia will have a chance to avenge their penalty shootout defeat to La Roja in the Nations League final, while revenge will be on the mind of plenty of Spain’s players when they come face-to-face with Euro 2020 semifinal conquerors Italy. Despite being seeded in pot two, Albania will start as Group B outsiders.
Croatia are up first for Spain on the opening weekend of the competition in Berlin. Five days later, they face Italy, a fixture that will remarkably take place for a fifth consecutive European Championship.
Spain won on penalties en route to glory in 2008 and beat Italy 4-0 in the 2012 final. Antonio Conte’s Azzurri got the better of a last-16 encounter in Paris in 2016 before it was Spain’s turn to suffer penalty heartache last time around.
By contrast, Spain have never met Albania in a major tournament but have won all eight of the meetings between the two nations.
The winner of Group B will face one of the four best third-placed finishers in the first knockout stage.
The team to come second will take on the runners-up in Group A, a quartet comprised of hosts Germany, Hungary, Switzerland and Spain’s qualification opponents Scotland.
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final
