A victory over Italy in Sunday's Euro 2008 quarter-final would help shake off Spain's reputation for choking on the big occasion.

Their impressive stroll through the group stage with maximum points has raised hopes again but even if they beat an improving Italian side they will most likely then have to overcome the flying Dutch and battling Germans to lift the trophy.

History is not on their side.

Apart from their victory at the 1964 European Championship and the 1992 Olympic Games, both of which came on home soil, Spain's record in major tournaments makes for miserable reading.

The international hoodoo dates back to their inaugural appearance at the World Cup in 1934 when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Italy in controversial circumstances.

The sides drew 1-1, with the Azzurri equalising with an apparently illegal goal and the heavy-handed Italians edged the replay 1-0 on home soil and went on to win the tournament.

Spain missed out on the 1954 World Cup on the toss of a coin after drawing a play-off qualifier with Turkey and also failed to reach the finals in 1958.

Four years later a side containing Ferenc Puskas, Paco Gento, European Footballer of the Year Luis Suarez and an injured Alfredo Di Stefano failed to get past the first round.

Politics intervened in 1960 when they withdrew from the inaugural European Championship at the behest of right wing dictator Francisco Franco after they were drawn against the Soviet Union in the quarter-finals.

Spain's sole success came four years later when they beat the Soviet Union 2-1 in the final on home soil at the Bernabeu, but they failed to make their mark in the next three editions.

Many Spaniards believed the team's time had finally come when they hosted the World Cup in 1982, but their hopes were dashed as the players wilted under the burden of expectation.

Two years later optimism returned when they reached the final of the European Championship 20 years after winning it.

But goalkeeper Luis Miguel Arconada let a Michel Platini freekick squirt under his body, France ran out 2-0 winners and Spain was left with a permanent scar on its footballing psyche.

In 1994, 60 years after their stormy quarter-final defeat by Italy, Spain suffered the same World Cup fate again when they lost 2-1 after a late penalty appeal was turned down.

They had no better luck at Euro 96 when they became the only side to lose out to England in a penalty shootout at a major tournament, while four years later they fell victim to France.

It was a return to controversy when they met co-hosts South Korea in the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals and lost on penalties after Fernando Morientes's golden 'goal' was disallowed.

There was yet more disappointment with a first round exit at Euro 2004, while at the last World Cup they flattered to deceive before losing to an ageing French side in the last 16.

This time they have a feared strike force in Fernando Torres and David Villa, a dynamic midfield containing Andres Iniesta and Xavi and a defence shored up by Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos with the safe hands of captain Iker Casillas in goal.

But will Spain's promising form be the prelude to another let down or the curtain raiser to a rare triumph?

Reuters