• Confederations Cup

Spain set new unbeaten record

ESPN staff
June 24, 2013
Spain have not lost in 28 competitive matches © AP
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Spain set a new world record for the longest unbeaten run of competitive matches in international football with Sunday's Confederations Cup win over Nigeria in Fortaleza.

The reigning World and European champions beat the Super Eagles 3-0 at the Estadio Castelao to confirm their place as Group B winners, but that victory also extended their streak without loss in competitions to 28 games.

That run of 24 wins and four draws, which stretches back to the 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in the opening fixture of their victorious 2010 World Cup campaign, surpasses the previous record set by France.

Les Bleus were also world champions when they set that record in 1999 - built up over a five-year period which did not include any qualifying matches for the 1998 World Cup by virtue of them hosting the tournament - and they went on the add the European Championship title in 2000.

Spain's win on Sunday was also the 15th consecutive game in which they have scored, having not drawn a blank since their goalless draw against Portugal in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 which they won on a penalty shootout.

The last defeat of any kind for La Furia Roja came in a friendly against England at Wembley in 2011, which they lost 1-0.

Their next chance to extend the record further comes on Thursday, when they face Italy in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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