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Spain will head to the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 as one of the clear title contenders

Set to be led by an enviable crop of fresh-faced starlets – chief amongst whom are Samu Omorodion, Alberto Moleiro and Cristhian Mosquera – the Spanish will be anxious to build on their podium success at Tokyo 2020 and banish the pain of defeat in the gold-medal showdown on Japanese soil. In their quest for glory, La Roja will firstly have to navigate their way out of a Group C line-up that features tournament newcomers Uzbekistan and the Dominican Republic, as well as an Egypt side that will be competing at their 13th Games. Should the European heavyweights advance to the knockout stage, their attentions will turn to claiming a coveted podium place and a spot in the Parc des Princes showpiece on 9 August.

The coach: Santi Denia
A member of the Spanish Football Association’s coaching staff since 2010, Santi Denia has enjoyed spells in charge of the U-17 and U-19 national teams, with whom he oversaw continental triumphs in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Another of the former Atletico Madrid stopper’s finest hours came when he steered La Rojita to the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, where his fledgling cubs were ultimately overpowered by an England team blessed with the talents of Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Conor Gallagher.

Denia, who now serves as the coach of the Spanish U-21 side and the men’s Olympic team, masterminded a run to the tournament decider at last year’s UEFA European U-21 Championship, only to see his side edged out by perennial conquerors England. The Albacete-born tactician is now primed for another shot at Olympic glory after having been a key part of Luis de la Fuente’s coaching staff at Tokyo 2020 and starred in the Spanish backline at the 1996 instalment in Atlanta. “I played at one edition of the Games myself, and it’s a dream come true for any player,” said Denia.

Olympics history
Previous participations: 11 (Antwerp 1920, Paris 1924, Amsterdam 1928, Mexico 1968, Montreal 1976, Moscow 1980, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, London 2012, Tokyo 2020)
Best result: Gold medal (Barcelona 1992)

Spain will grace the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament for a 12th time when they run out on French soil in late July. The Spanish have set foot on the podium in four of their 11 tournament campaigns, winning silver at Antwerp 1920 before striking gold on their own patch in 1992, followed by runners-up finishes at Sydney 2000 and Tokyo 2020.

Memories of the gold medal clinched in the Catalan capital in 1992 are firmly etched in the minds of all those of a Spanish persuasion, as Kiko Narvaez’s healthy five-goal haul –including a brace in an epic final against Poland – and stellar tournament campaigns from the likes of captain Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique and Santi Canizares propelled the hosts to glory. Rewinding to the 1920 Games, Spain earned a second-place finish and the nickname of La Furia Roja – in reference to the team’s aggressive, direct approach, which is a world away from the possession-based blueprint deployed to devastating effect by the Iberians in more recent time. However, following on from the nation’s medal success in Antwerp, Spanish fans were made to wait until the Barcelona bonanza in 1992 to see their side return to the podium.

The team at Sydney 2000, built around Barcelona midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez, endured shootout heartbreak at the hands of Cameroon in the showpiece after the Indomitable Lions had staged a roaring comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw against nine-man Spain. The Spanish squad at Tokyo 2020 also had to settle for silver, losing out to reigning champions Brazil in the final. Denia, part of the coaching staff who witnessed the defeat in Yokohama, will undoubtedly be fuelled by that disappointment as he bids to guide his troops to the next step on the podium at Paris 2024.