SPAIN - HOME SHIRT 2018
Spain, governed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation founded in 1913, play under the nickname La Roja (The Red One), though older fans still know them as La Furia Roja (The Red Fury). Rather than a single home ground, the national side move between stadiums across the country, and their trophy cabinet includes a run few nations can match: Spain remain the only team to win three consecutive major tournaments, lifting Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 back to back.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia arrived with chaos already attached. Just two days before the opening match, the federation sacked manager Julen Lopetegui after he agreed to become Real Madrid's coach without telling them first, and sporting director Fernando Hierro stepped in as interim boss for the tournament. This retro home shirt, worn throughout that campaign, revived the diamond pattern from Spain's famous 1994 shirt. Spain topped Group B on five points, level with Portugal but ahead on goals scored, six to five, after a stunning 3-3 draw with Portugal, a 1-0 win over Iran and a 2-2 draw with Morocco.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick, including an 88th minute free kick, denied Spain victory in Sochi on matchday one. Iago Aspas rescued a point deep into injury time against Morocco. In the last 16 in Moscow, Spain dominated possession with over 1,100 passes against hosts Russia but could not find a breakthrough, drawing 1-1 after extra time before losing 4-3 on penalties as Igor Akinfeev saved two Spanish spot kicks.
Diego Costa finished as Spain's top scorer with three goals, including both equalisers against Portugal. David de Gea endured a rare blunder in that same match, letting a Ronaldo shot squirm through his grasp. Andrés Iniesta, the scorer of Spain's 2010 World Cup final winner, confirmed the Russia defeat was his last appearance for the national team after 131 caps.
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