Spain vs. France head-to-heads

DONETSK — Before their meeting in the Euro 2012 quarterfinals in Donetsk on Saturday, Spain and France have played each other on 30 occasions. Most of the matches have been friendlies, with Spain winning 13 of them to France's 11, with six draws. Of the six competitive games, France has won five and drawn one. Here is a look at some of the most memorable encounters:

At
Paris. Michel Platini guided France to its first European Championship
title with a 2-0 victory over unlikely finalist Spain. Platini was the
leading member of France’s talented four-man midfield, known as “Le
Carre Magique”, along with Alain Giresse, Jean Tigana and Luis
Fernandez. The current UEFA president scored a record nine goals in the
tournament. Perhaps his most memorable one was a curling free kick in
the 57th minute that somehow squeezed under goalkeeper Luis Arconada,
who had been the standout player as Spain reached its first final since
winning in Madrid 20 years earlier. Despite having defender Yvon Le Roux
sent off in the 85th minute, there was still time for Bruno Bellone to
score a second as Les Bleus won their first major title.

France
beat Spain home and away to finish top of its group ahead of the Czech
Republic, while the Spanish missed out on a major championship for the
first time in 18 years. Les Bleus came from behind to win the first
meeting 3-1 in February, 1991 at Parc des Princes, replying to Jose Mari
Bakero’s 10th-minute opener with goals from Franck Sauzee, Jean-Pierre
Papin and current France coach Laurent Blanc. Eight months later in
Seville, Fernandez and Papin put France ahead 2-0 after 15 minutes and
held on for a 2-1 victory despite Abelardo’s 33rd-minute strike.

At
Bruges, Belgium. France’s march toward its second European Championship
included a nail-biting victory over Spain. Zinedine Zidane’s tremendous
free-kick on the half hour mark put Les Bleus ahead before Gaizka
Mendieta equalized from the penalty spot soon after. Patrick Vieira set
up Youri Djorkaeff at the end of the first half for what proved to be
the winner, after Spain missed a last-minute penalty. Raul Gonzalez
stepped up to take the spot kick with Mendieta already taken off and the
Real Madrid striker sent his shot sailing over the bar to put France on
course to follow up its 1998 World Cup win with a second European
title.

At
Hanover, Germany. Spain went into this second round match as winners of
Group H, while France squeezed through behind Group G winner
Switzerland. David Villa scored a penalty to put Spain ahead before
Franck Ribery equalized just before the break. Thierry Henry embellished
a tangle with Carles Puyol to win a free kick that Vieira headed home
in the 82nd minute, before Zidane scored in injury time. After this
defeat, Spain perfected its quick-touch passing and possession game that
has carried it to the Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup titles.