When Spain beat the Reds and Franco was a happy general

Tomorrow’s clash with Italy is Spain’s third European Championships final.

The win over Germany four years ago is well remembered, but perhaps less so the 1964 triumph over the USSR — billed in Madrid as another battle in the continuing struggle between fascism and communism.

Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco was a lifelong football fan, and certainly knew the propaganda value of the sport. He was delighted by Real Madrid’s all conquering 1950s side, but then frustrated when club success did not automatically translate to the Spanish national team.