Why aren't fans turning out for the Spanish national team?

Posted Monday, March 27, 2017 by Marca.com

Julen Lopetegui's Spain may be playing well, but this revival of La Roja's fortunes has not been enough to attract the supporters, with the team often playing in front of empty seats.

Friday's clash with Israel at Estadio El Molinon in Gijon was simply the latest example and there are a number of reasons why fans aren't turning out as they used to.

1. A lost passion

Of Spain's past 10 home matches, only three - Alicante's hosting of England and the matches against Liechtenstein and Costa Rica in Leon - have roused enough passion to sell out, while trips to Granada, Getafe, Logrono, Seville, Gijon, Vigo and Oviedo have all had tickets left unsold.

2. Recent failures

The disappointments of the 2014 World Cup and of Euro 2016 have led some supporters to think twice about heading along when La Roja are in town.

Vicente del Bosque may have stepped aside for Lopetegui, but the new challenge of reaching the 2018 World Cup has yet to generate sufficient interest.

3. A changing of the guard

While many fans still have great affection for the heroes of South Africa, there are few of them still on this new-look Spain team and it may take some time for fans to get used to the new faces of the national team.

4. The lack of available stadiums

Although Spain has many excellent stadiums, several of them are not used for the national team due to political reasons - such as those in Catalonia or the Basque Country - or due to fallouts with Spanish FA president Angel Maria Villar - as in the case of Real Madrid and the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, which hasn't hosted La Roja in six years. This has forced Spain to make multiple visits to the same places, such as Leon, Logrono and Asturias.

5. The importance of club football

As a result of the lack of recent national team success, many fans prioritise their clubs, with the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry often leaving La Roja in the shadow.