De la Fuente moves one step away from all-time consecutive wins record

After reaching the Last 16 and setting the record of consecutive wins at a European Championships, the Spanish national team went one step further on Friday in Stuttgart.

Mikel Merino's goal in the last minute of extra time ended the jinx against the hosts, sent Spain through to the semi-finals and marked the fifth straight win for Luis de la Fuente's side.

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As such, the coach from La Rioja is just one win away from equalling the feat of the unforgettable World Cup in South Africa, in which Spain, after losing to Switzerland in the opener, stringed together half a dozen victories against Honduras, Chile, Portugal, Paraguay, Germany and in extra time against the Netherlands to win their World Cup winners’ star.

Spain are the only team to have won all their matches at this year's finals and would beat their best-ever run at a finals if they win next Tuesday's semi-final in Munich, as well as reaching the eagerly-awaited final on 14 July at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, it's all to play for now.