It is the face that celebrates 80-odd years of grudges, gripes and indignation. It is the photograph of Luis Enrique, the Spain international, his mouth dripping so much blood it is as if he had just finished the main course at a vampire feast.

The picture was taken shortly before the end of the 1994 World Cup quarter-final in Boston between Italy and Spain. Contesting a corner, Luis Enrique’s face had just been rearranged by the elbow of Italy defender Mauro Tassotti. The referee saw nothing but the blood. Spaniards saw the same old Italy: dirty, cynical, lucky, and victorious.

That was the last time Italy met Spain at this stage in a senior tournament, and, hombre, do Spaniards commemorate it. The game had been close and while Italy won, Spain typically headed straight onto a moral high ground. The savaging of Luis Enrique had gone unpunished, they reckoned, just as Italian caution, crabbiness and dullness seldom gets its just deserts.

The rivalry between these two countries, who meet in Vienna tonight, has developed a long and feisty character that the fluid movement of players across borders has done little to dilute. La Liga paints Serie A as full of dull killjoys. Serie A suspects La Liga may be soft and indulgent. The Champions League now makes Spanish-Italian collisions commonplace in club football, and some turn nasty. Valencia and Inter last year produced one of the most violent and uncontrolled punch-ups in the history of the elite club competition.

As nation-against-nation, Spain began to feel hard done by against Italy as far back as the 1924 Olympics. Italy knocked out Spain with an unlucky own goal. Ten years later, Italy’s hosts met Spain’s newcomers at the World Cup, with the Italian equaliser – so Spanish media reported – achieved only thanks to an assault on the Spain keeper, a handball and so much mobbing of the referee that he changed his decision to rule out the goal. Come the replay, Italy won 1-0. The referees of both games were later suspended.

In Boston 60 years later, it finished 2-1 thanks to Roberto Baggio’s finishing. So there’s much talk of vendetta about today, when Tassotti will be on Italy’s bench, part of the coaching staff. Luis Enrique will not be on the other side. But he has now had his stitches out. And his face looks fine.

Spain’s 80 years of hurt
- 1924 Spain travelled with high hopes to the Paris Olympics, but Italy won 1-0 thanks to an own goal
- 1934 Spain’s fi rst World Cup fi nals. They led 1-0, but Italy equalised thanks to the referee missing a clear handball. Italy won the replay 1-0
- 1994 Spain trailed 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfi nal when the elbow of Italy’s Mauro Tassotti smashed into Luis Enrique’s face. The Spaniard’s shirt turned crimson, above, Tassotti went unpunished, and Spain went home
- 2007 Valencia drew 0-0 at home to Internazionale, but punches were thrown after the whistle. Spaniard David Navarro was banned for seven months and teammate Carlos Marchena for four games

Date of despair

Spain have gone out of three major tournaments on penalties, in 1986, 1996 and 2002, all at the quarter-final stage and all played on June 22.
1986 World Cup Jean-Marie Pfaff saved Eloy’s kick as Belgium won 5-4.
1996 Euros England’s David Seaman denied them, stopping Miguel Nadal’s attempt in a shootout they lost 4-2.
2002 World Cup Joaquin missed as joint hosts South Korea won 5-3