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A year among the best national teams in Europe in which the penalty shoot-out made the World Cup dreams faded away

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The Spanish national team has lived a rollercoaster of emotions for twelve months during which they have achieved its place in the final four of the Nations League and have said goodbye to Qatar in the penalty shootout of the round of 16 against Morocco.

Thirteen matches in twelve months that could have been the desired sixteen had it not been for the fateful penalty shoot-out in Qatar.

Spain have completed a 2022 being one of the best national teams by winning all the matches of their group in the Nations League, qualifying for the final four among Europe's top teams and winning all the warm-up matches they have played.

The only misfortune that has deprived the national team coached by Luis Enrique Martínez from a greater dose of glory in 2022 was the one from the penalty spot.

With 27 goals scored and only 10 against, Spain began their 2022 season by winning against Albania at a vibrant RCDE Stadium, which was the best possible venue for the Catalan fans' meeting the national team.

 

 

From that time to the victory against Iceland in the Riazor stadium, they have won half-dozen matches in the Nations League and qualified for the thrilling Iberian derby in Braga, before the World Cup closed one of the most intense years in the centenary history of the national team.

Spain landed in Doha in mid-November after a brief preparation with a previous stop in Jordan and a spectacular debut giving Costa Rica a hammering.

 

The draw against Germany and the narrow loss against Japan determined Luis Enrique and his team into the last round of 16, where their dominance against Morocco did not result in goals, being the penalties the judges of the match. 

 

With the presentation of Luis de la Fuente as the new national coach on 12 December, a 2022 to remember came to an end. Now, it gives a way to a hopeful new year in which Spain can extend its track record with the Nations League and achieve a ticket to fight in 2024 for the European Championship to be held in Germany.

SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM FIXTURES IN 2022

Fixture Date Result Competition City
1 26th March SPAIN 2-1 Albania Warm-up match Barcelona
2 29th March SPAIN 5-0 Iceland Warm-up match La Coruña
3 2nd June SPAIN 1-1 Portugal UEFA Nations League Sevilla
4 5th June Czech Republic 2-2 SPAIN UEFA Nations League Prage
5 9th June Switzerland 0-1 SPAIN UEFA Nations League Geneva
6 12th June SPAIN 2-0 Czech Republic UEFA Nations League Málaga
7 24th September SPAIN 1-2 Switzerland UEFA Nations League Zaragoza
8 27th September Portugal 0-1 SPAIN UEFA Nations League Braga
9 17th November Jordan 1-3 SPAIN Warm-up match Amman
10 23rd November SPAIN 7-0 Costa Rica World Cup 2022 Doha
11 27th November SPAIN 1-1 Germany World Cup 2022 Jor
12 1st December Japan 2-1 SPAIN World Cup 2022 Al-Rayyan
13 6th December Morocco 0-0 (0-3 pp) SPAIN World Cup 2022 Al-Rayyan