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Euro 2016: Spain end 53-year June 13 curse with win over Czech Republic in Toulouse
Spaniards had lost four and drawn one of previous clashes on this date... and broke similar curse on way to Euro 2008 victory
Spain made history with 1-0 victory over Czech Republic at Euro 2016 — breaking a 53-year curse.
Remarkably, La Rioja had lost four and drawn one on the five occasions they had played on June 13, dating back to 1963.
It’s an astonishing stat, which could actually prove a good omen for the Spaniards.
On their way to Euro 2008 victory, Spain broke a similar curse with their spot-kick defeat of Italy, on the quarter-finals.
They faced the then-world champions June 22, a date in which they previously lost THREE penalty shoot-outs in major tournaments — with one of them even coming against England.
At the 1986 World Cup, Belgium were their conquerors in the quarter-finals stage.
While Spain even had the indignity to lose a shoot-out against England at the same stage, at Euro 96.
And their 2002 World Cup ended with a spot-kick defeat to hosts South Korea.
However, they broke that curse, and went on to win Euro 2008.
Victory in Austria and Switzerland was their first at a major tournament for 44 years — and it started a period of unprecedented dominance.
Spain will be hoping a maiden June 13 victory will spark a similar revolution, following a relatively rocky period since they won Euro 2012.
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Their first match on this date was back in 1963, when they humbled 6-2 in Madrid by Scotland.
Spain, whose leading club side Real Madrid had only recently ended their five-year European Cup monopoly, would go on to be crowned champions of Europe just 374 days later.
But they were no match for the heroic Scots who, whose starting line-up included the likes of Billy McNeill, Frank McLintock, Ian St John and Denis Law.
In their Italia 90 opener, Spain were lucky to escape with a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.
Ruben Sosa sent a second-half spot-kick over the bar for the South Americans.
There was a major shock in France eight years later, as Spain fell to a 3-2 group stage defeat against Nigeria which put their qualification hopes in jeopardy.
La Rioja twice took the lead, only to be pegged back before Sundae Oliseh scored the game’s final goal 13 minutes from time to seal victory for the Super Eagles.
Spain continued to enhance their reputation with an underwhelming display at Euro 2000.
But before Raul’s stoppage-time penalty miss against France condemned them to quarter-final elimination, there was a June 13 clash with Norway to contend with.
Spain opened their campaign in Holland and Belgium against the Scandinavians, and fell victims to a second half winner by former Tottenham striker, Steffen Iversen.
However, their most humiliating defeat on that fateful June date was reserved for the 2014 World Cup.
Spain came into the tournament as holders and seeking to become only the third nation to retain their crown.
And, in their opener in Brazil, they face Holland — the team they had overcome to win their first-ever World Cup four years earlier.
But, now led by Louis van Gaal, the Dutch were a different outfit.
Despite Xabi Alonso giving the reigning world champions the lead from the spot, Holland hit back to net FIVE times and earn some sort of revenge.