Spain’s national football team is gearing up for a thrilling showdown against England in the Euro 2024 final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Despite their stellar performance throughout the tournament, winning all their matches so far, there’s been a noticeable absence: the players’ decision not to sing their national anthem.
The reason behind this lies in the anthem itself—La Marcha Real. Unlike many national anthems, La Marcha Real does not have lyrics. Originally composed by Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros in 1771, it remains one of the few anthems in the world without words, alongside those of San Marino, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During General Franco’s regime from 1938 to 1973, lyrics were briefly added to the anthem. However, following Franco’s rule, these lyrics were removed to avoid any association with his dictatorship, a decision that remains in place today.
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Efforts to introduce new lyrics, including proposals from the Spanish Olympic Committee to incorporate “Viva España,” were rejected due to its historical ties to Franco.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated final, Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente acknowledged the significance of the match: “It’s fantastic to be here and we are excited to be in the final. It’s one of the biggest sporting achievements there is. We are relaxed and looking forward to playing.”
De la Fuente emphasized the challenge ahead against England, highlighting the importance of minimizing errors in a closely contested match: “Sunday will be a complicated game against a great team, between the best two teams, that’s why we are in the final. These matches, which are so even, are often decided by the finer details. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will have the best chance of winning.”
As Spain prepares to take the field for the final, their players’ silent stance during the national anthem symbolizes a historical and cultural decision rooted in Spain’s complex past.
