Spain are famous for fluffing their lines

The Spanish national team habitually fail to live up to expectations at major tournaments. Paul Radley takes a look back at past failures.

Fernando Hierro argues with the Egyptian referee Gamal Ghandour after another decision goes against Spain during their quarter-final match against joint host South Korea in the 2002 World Cup. Spain hShow more

Spain, for once, appear to be justifying the hype that always follows them to major championships. When they face Germany tonight, the sport's perennial underachievers go in search of a place in the World Cup final for the first time knowing history is against them. Below are five cases of when the Spanish fell short when more had been expected.

The 1996 vintage must rank as one of the unluckiest teams in the history of sport, going by the fact they actually managed to lose to England on penalties. Javier Clemente must have known his side's luck was out during their Wembley quarter-final. The Spaniards dominated the game, and had the ball in the England net three times during the 120 minutes leading up to the spot-kicks. Each was ruled out on account of offside, meaning England, the host nation, clung to a dubious scoreless draw. They then banished their own penalty ghosts and sent the Spaniards out. It remains the only time in six that England have won a shoot-out. Normal service was resumed a game later when they lost out to their regular spot-kick foes, Germany.

Sometimes, La Roja have been the architects of their own downfall, other times, outside factors have conspired against them. In South Korea in 2002, it was definitely a case of the latter, as they were deprived a place in the semi-finals by some appalling home-town decision-making. The South Koreans had already benefitted from refereeing benevolence as they beat Italy in the last 16. Even they were starting to look a little sheepish by the way the calls kept going for them especially in their quarter-final against Spain. The Spaniards, who had advanced supremely through qualifying and the pool phase, had two goals ruled out thanks to a myopic linesman, then succumbed on penalties.

Spain often arrive at major championships loaded with richly talented players who have recently celebrated glories on other platforms. Never more so was this the case when they crossed the Atlantic for the 1994 World Cup. Much of their squad had graduated from that which won Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992. They were also basking in the reflected glory of Barcelona's "Dream Team" winning their maiden European Cup two years earlier.However, their pursuit of a maiden world crown ended in bitter defeat as they were knocked out in the last eight by their fiercest rivals, Italy. Luis Enrique, the flying winger who typified the speedy game of the Spaniards, lost a pint of blood after he was struck in the face by an elbow from Mauro Tassoti, the Italy defender. It went unpunished during the game, but later earned the Italian an eight-game ban.

Emilio Butragueno is the archetypal Spanish footballer: lavishly talented, free-scoring, an abundance of domestic honours ... and has a hole in the trophy cabinet where his World Cup medal should be. The Real Madrid forward had just won consecutive Uefa Cup titles, as well as the Spanish league when he arrived in Mexico with the national team.

They snuck through their group, after losing their opening game to Brazil, courtesy of a goal from Socrates, the Brazil captain, but wins over Northern Ireland and Algeria. Butragueno then helped himself to four goals as they thrashed Denmark 5-1 in the last 16. However, just as Spain were starting to think maybe this was finally their year, they lost out on penalties to Belgium.

Home advantage traditionally counts for a lot at World Cup finals. The home side have won the tournament on six occasions, and minimum target for leading nations hosting the competition is usually the semi-finals. Not for the first time at World Cups, the Spanish fluffed their lines when expectations were at their highest. On home soil in 1982, Jose Santamaria's highly rated charges spluttered through their opening group, despite losing to Northern Ireland and drawing with lowly Honduras. It merely proved a stay of execution, as a loss to West Germany and a goalless draw with England cost La Roja their place in the tournament, and Santamaria his job.

There were a number of notable absentees from the first European Championships, including West Germany, Italy and England. Spain did enter, but pulled out after refusing to travel to the Soviet Union, the eventual winners, for the away leg of their quarter-final tie.

The country was still under the rule of General Franco, and his politics spread to football as the national side were prevented from travelling to a Communist state that had supported the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War. [e-mail]