With Argentina and Spain winning the Copa America and European Championship respectively, the 2025 UEFA Super Cup is also out of line. It can be said that these two teams deserved to fight this battle at the pinnacle, even from a historical point of view. You know, Spain and Argentina are the only two teams in the history of world football that have won three consecutive major tournaments, which even Brazil, Germany, and Italy have not done.
In recent years, it has been the best era for Argentina, especially the 2022 World Cup, and they have lived up to expectations and made Messi a god. After 36 years, the Pampas Eagles have finally lifted the Hercules Cup again. However, in this World Cup, Argentina always seems to be missing something. There is a team that should have met Argentina in the group stage, but in fact, they did not make it to this World Cup at all.
Nigeria.
When it comes to the fate of the World Cup between Argentina and Nigeria, it can really be written into a book. Since Nigeria reached the World Cup for the first time in 1994, they have started the pattern of CP with Argentina. In addition to 1998, 2006, 2022, in the past 30 years of the World Cup, Nigeria and Argentina have always met in the group stage, such a fate, looking at the world, is extremely rare.
Of course, in terms of results, Nigeria is definitely Argentina's favorite opponent, because since 1994, the two sides have met five times in the group stage of the World Cup, and Argentina has won all of them. Of course, Argentina also maintained their utmost gentleness, winning only one goal each time.
Now let's go back to the European Championships. Since Argentina has its own CP in the World Cup, does Spain have its own CP in the European Cup?
Yes.
This team, due to historical reasons, has not been established for a long time. But in the last four European Championships, they have met Spain four times in a row, and each time they have not missed the contract. However, compared to Argentina and Nigeria, which only meet in the group stage, this stage of the team meeting Spain is more diverse, with three group stages and one quarter-final.
Croatia.
Croatia only played in the European Championship for the first time in 1996, when they were not too strong, and Spain was far from the peak, so the two sides did not have much fate. But since Spain reached their golden age and won three major tournaments, Croatia suddenly burst into their world and have not left.
At Euro 2012, the two sides met in the group stage, and Croatia became the backdrop for Spain's back-to-back title. At Euro 2016, the two sides met again in the group stage, and this time Croatia took advantage of the golden generation of Spain to go down the trough and won 2-1. At Euro 2021, the two sides gave us a crazy goal battle in the round of 16, 5:3, Spain had the last laugh. Euro 2024 coincides with the gradual weakening of Croatia's golden generation, while Spain has emerged with a new golden generation, 3:0, Croatia was defeated.
Of course, compared to Nigeria's kneeling every time they meet Argentina in the World Cup, Croatia has at least won against Spain in the European Championship, and objectively speaking, Croatia can cause Spain a lot of trouble every time they meet. Three years ago, Croatia equalised at the end of 5-3 in regular time and dragged the game into extra time, which is a classic in itself. And Euro 2024, although 0:3 seems to be one-sided, but in fact, Croatia has many opportunities, but they did not take advantage of it.
However, it is a pity that these two pairs of CPs currently have an unsustainable feeling. Argentina are now the number one team in the world and have no other glory, while Nigeria is caught in the brutal competition of African football. In the next World Cup, the expansion of the group draw will inevitably cause diversion, and the chances of Argentina and Nigeria continuing their lead will be even smaller.
As for the European Championship, Croatia is now a bit blue, whether they can reach the next European Championship, there is still a question mark, maybe the number of consecutive meetings between the two sides will be temporarily fixed at 4.