Spain won the 1964 European Nations' Cup on home soil, defeating the Soviet Union 2–1 in a final laden with Cold War political tension.
Key Facts
- Tournament edition
- 2nd UEFA European Championship
- Final score
- Spain 2–1 Soviet Union
- Final venue
- Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- Final attendance
- Over 79,000 spectators
- Teams entered
- 29 (including Greece withdraw)
- Winning goal scorer
- Marcelino (late goal)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Twenty-nine national teams entered a knockout qualifying competition with home-and-away legs. Spain had been disqualified from the previous edition for refusing to travel to Moscow to face the Soviet Union, but under General Franco the hosts ultimately agreed to host and participate in the final tournament, joining the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Denmark as the four semi-finalists.
The final tournament was held in Spain in June 1964. Spain defeated Hungary 2–1 in extra time in the semi-final, while the Soviet Union beat Denmark 3–0. In the final at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, before more than 79,000 spectators including Franco, Spain overcame the defending champion Soviet Union 2–1 with a late winning goal from Marcelino.
Spain claimed its first European championship title, defeating the same Soviet Union team it had refused to face four years earlier. The tournament highlighted the intersection of Cold War politics and international football, and Denmark's surprise qualification demonstrated that smaller nations could compete at the highest level of European competition.
Result
at Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain