Spain and France are two sides in football who have shown some of the top skills. Both are World Cup winners and have won European Championships too.
Spain is a four-time European Champions, winning titles in 1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024. Meanwhile, Frace did it in 2000 and 1984.
However, France has won two World Cups in 1998 and 2018 Spain’s only in 2010. These states alone show that Spain and France have a deep history and some of the best footballers of all time. In terms of starting XI, they always have a good side. But picking the best start XI of both sides and then combining is a task that makes one jump into the deep sea of the football world.
Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team: Head-to-head history
In football history, there are not many teams better than Spain and France. Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team Lineups these two sides meeting in any competition becomes huge. The first battle between these sides happened on 30 Apr 1922, when France beat Spain by 4-0. Both sides have met 37 times. France won 17, drawing 7 and losing 3. This only shows how deep a battle this is. Because over the years, the quality of football has always carried good levels of the game. This is why it looks amazing to great footballers of now and past. When it comes to these two sides, quality at best is something a fan can feel to the core levels.
In terms of head-to-head, France seems to have a little edge. But it is not as wide as it would be with other sides.
Spain National Football Team: All-Time Best XI
Spain’s National Football Team has so many football players and it is indeed hard to Pick the Best XI players. So our experts have made multiple decisions before coming to conclusion.
Best XI (4-3-3)
· Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
· Centre Back: Sergio Ramos
· Centre Back: Gerard Piqué
· Right Back: Dani Carvajal
· Left Back: Jordi Alba
· Defensive Midfielder: Sergio Busquets
· Central Midfielder: Xavier Hernandez
· Central Midfielder: Xavi Alonso
· Forward/Winger: Andrés Iniesta
· Forward/Winger: Cesc Fàbregas
· Striker: Raúl González Blanco
Many other players can make it into the starting XI. But these are some of the best.
France National Football Team: All-Time Best XI
France’s National Football Team does have so many players from different generations. But experts have brought the best XI as many fans reviews.
Best XI (4-1-2-3)
· Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris
· Centre Back: Laurent Blanc
· Centre Back: Raphaël Varane
· Right Back: Lillian Thuram
· Left Back: Bixente Lizarazu
· Defensive Midfielder: N’Golo Kanté
· Attacking Midfielder: Michel Platini
· Attacking Midfielder: Zinedine Zidane
· Forward/Winger: Antoine Griezmann
· Forward/Winger: Kylian Mbappé
· Striker: Thierry Henry
These are some of the best players that have ever played for France. Likes of Paul Pogba and many others are left from the list. It shows deepness in the great players both sides have.
Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team Lineups: Combined XI
Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team Lineups become even better if we manage the team and make it one as they have some of the best footballers ever to grace to football pitch.
Combined XI – 4-1-2-3
· Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
· Centre Back: Laurent Blanc
· Centre Back: Sergio Ramos
· Right Back: Lillian Thuram
· Left Back: Jordi Alba
· Defensive Midfielder: Sergio Busquets
· Attacking Midfielder: Xavier Hernandez
· Attacking Midfielder: Zinedine Zidane
· Forward/Winger: Andrés Iniesta
· Forward/Winger: Kylian Mbappé
· Striker: Thierry Henry
Out of 11 players, six were made from Spain and 5 from France. Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Xavier Hernandez and Andrés Iniesta made it for Spain.
When it comes to France, Laurent Blanc, Lillian Thuram, Zinedine Zidane, Kylian Mbappé and Thierry Henry made it in the combined XI.
All of these players have deep football careers in the domestic and international level. And all of them have won the World Cup and Euro too. It shows the great level of players they have.
Why do Spain and France Dominate in football?
Spain and France are, first of all, rich and developed nations. They have a huge history in domestic football and have some of the best football clubs. All these clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique Lyonnais and a host of other clubs have good football academies. It makes great players for other nations as well as for France and Spain. And then these players play at the highest level from birth. La Liga of Spain and Ligue 1 of France are in the top five domestic top-flight leagues of all time.
Hence, year after year they come up with good football players. Even if they do not work in one major event, in the next one it seems they have the edge. From 2008 to 2012, Spain dominated the world of football and France has seen great impact from 1998 to 2006 and 2016 to 2018. These are some of the golden years of both sides even if they did manage to be the best side in the world. And not to forget the impact Spain did in 2024 by winning the Euros in Germany.
The future of both sides
One can say that in 10 years Japan might go up or down in football because they are still in the process of being one of the top 10 sides in the world. But Spain and France have over 95 per cent chance of staying at the highest levels as they are one of the best sides ever. And it is very hard to stop their football clubs and their academies to not coming up with some of the best players, who are young and special. Hence, these are the teams who are favourites to win major events.
Conclusion
Over the years, Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team Lineups have been special. France from 1998 to 2006 did have a great squad. It was then taken over by Spain from 2008 to 2012. France again came at the top from 2016 to 2018. And Spain made the comeback by winning in 2024. In the 1960s, Spain had a good squad too and France had a good XI in the 1980s. Hence, they did win Euros once in these decades. The only edge France has is two World Cups to Spain’s one. However, they have four Euros to France’s two. It shows how great these sides have been with some of the best starting XIs.
Q Which team has won the most Euros?
Spain has won the most Euros in total and the number is 4 in 1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024.
Q When did France win the first FIFA World Cup?
France won the first FIFA World Cup in 1998.
Q When did Spain win the first FIFA World Cup?
Spain did win the first World Cup in the 2008 World Cup.
Q Who has won more World Cups Spain or France?
France has won two FIFA World Cups (1998, 2018) to Spain’s one (2010).
Q Who is the best French footballer ever?
As per football pundits, Zinedine Zidane is the best football player ever coming from France.
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