Hungary 1950s. Brazil 1970. Germany 1972-76. Holland 1974. Argentina 1986-90. France 1998-2000. These are the greatest international teams that the world has produced.
A new nation deserves to be added by the end of the European Championship. Regardless of the result against Italy, La Roja deserve their rightful place alongside the international greats.
Win or lose, by one goal or three, or penalties, Spain are truly one of the best ever. Everyone knows of their achievements. A third consecutive international final, the prospect of becoming the first team to win a third championship in a row drives the Spanish. Their success on the pitch is also followed by their now famous game style, etching their name in history.
In 1970, Brazil showed the world the flowing finesse of samba and scored goals galore. Holland brought “Total Football”, while the Germans showed their efficiency with their devastating counter attacking game. Argentina and France brought the ideology of building a team around star man to lead them on. Spain’s possession based game is now the envy of footballing nations. Yet it the evolution that it’s taken that deserves its credit.
In 2008, they were the underachievers. With no pressure on them and lead by Luis Aragones, they played a flowing 4-4-1-1 attacking game. They smashed Russia twice (4-1 and 3-0), broke their hoodoo against the Italians and cruised past Germany in the final.
In South Africa two years ago, they were the favourites for the first time in history. Vincente Del Bosque took over the reign and persisted with the flowing football, yet come the finals, things changed. He took the Spanish possession game to the next level, by switching to a 4-2-3-1 and introducing four central midfielders in Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets. Five consecutive 1-0 wins highlighted their ability to control games. Once they scored, they took complete supremacy and shut down the game.
They thoroughly deserved to be champions.
This time around, once again, Del Bosque, while sticking to the basic principles of possession, brought in a Barcelona striker-less formation. Playing Cesc Fabregas up front alone, the Barcelona midfielder dropped deep to collect the ball, the ‘Messi false 9 role’. This offers Spain another outlet for possession, but provides their midfielders space as well. This is exactly the same as Barcelona.
Critics have panned the Spanish for this approach, citing their lack of attacking intent. Yet, despite this, Spain haven’t lost a game in the Championship, having conceded only two goals, scored eight and having a complete hegemony in their games, most notably against the French.
The change though is mainly because of the lack of David Villa, who has been Spain key striker for a number of years. Torres has showed glimpses of his old self, but apart from that, the forwards have struggled, Pedro and Negreado included. So Del Bosque’s “striker-less” formation seems to be working.
Controlling their nerves, they showed the true grit of champions when penalty pressure rose in the Portugal clash and didn’t crumble when Italy took the lead in the first game. Spain though has one more challenge ahead, this time against the most anti-Italian of Italian teams.
How will they fare? They are the favourites, yet again, but will they pass their Italians in oblivion? Or will they become the more Italian of the sides, score and shut down the game? Is Del Bosque going to go striker-less or throw up Torres, Pedro or Negredo?
Success or not, Spain are already one of the greats in world football. A victory in the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Sunday night would give the Spanish, La Roja eternal greatness.
However, it matters little, for already they have it.
Steve
Guest
I think, even though I stayed sceptical for as long as possible, that you'd be going some to deny this team their place in the pantheon: the wins are part of it, and the sheer dominance they've shown in terms of forcing games to be played on their terms. Italy looked hapless against them, and who could have beaten them that day?. And it's not just that; the main point is that they have a recognizable style, a style that is definably 'Spain', and the team of this era will serve as a reference point for comparison and analysis in years to come.
AL
Guest
jbinnie - Fair enough, yes Brazilains introduced e.g. the dimand formation, but it did not take away from the players imagination
jbinnie
Guest
Al - You say I misunderstood you,how could I do that when you specifically cited 2 teams as the only "great teams" ever. Why did you cite 2 Brazilian teams ,why not 1 and call it the best??? Now to your comments on "freedom" as opposed to "all army" which to be honest was totally mind boggling.Have you heard of Francisco,Cardoso,Solic,Feola, and Zagalla to name a few. All of these men were well credentialled coaches who are credited with introducing tactics into Brazilian football, in fact it is Zagallo who, because of his tremendous stamina as a player is credited with Brazil's changing from 4-2-4 to a fluid 4-3-3 between 1958 and 1962.(You will note that this was some14 years before the Dutch,so we are told,brought this system into the game?????) The "all army" barb was obviously aimed at the communist set up in Hungary 1945 -1957 where some of the national team played with an "army" team called Honved.I was fortunate enough to see Hungary play in 1954 and space here does not allow me to go into detail as to how fluid their system was ,depending if they were in possession or defending, but suffice to say they were a superb football team in their own right even if their coach Sebes and their wing half Bozsik were ,-----no, ---not soldiers,----but politicians.!!!!! jb
Johnno
Guest
Holland 74 and the Hungary team of the 70's were special maybe the best teams ever despite not winning the world cup . The Spain 82 side was highly regard but flopped sensationally at there home world cup.
AL
Guest
jbinnie - You have misundersood me. It's not about goals in the whole. The Brazilian teams left much of their game to the imagination and skill of their players e.g. Pele leaving the Urugian keeper in no mans land but missing the goal. As for the HUngarian team of the 1950, it was more down strategies e.g. triangular passing, that made them different. All army and no football freedom. Its my opinion on my philosophy of football.
AL
Guest
Gents I do not measure a great team by goals. But by the way they play. The Brazilian teams had afreedom about the way they played. They used there natural skill and imagination in the game.
jbinnie
Guest
k77sujith- When discussing such widely diverse subjects as "The best team ever", "Entertainment value","Striking Ability", "Defensive Capability" one should never forget the one philosophy that can be taken as a "given",a "must" ,ie, to score more goals than your opponent. How a team sets out to achieve this opens up a plethora of tactics,systems,formations,etc.that have actually been in an almost constant phalanx of change since the first big "move" at Arsenal back in the 1920's. So no matter your personal likes, success HAS to be measured by the number of goals you score more than your opponent, ie winning the game. As has been said elsewhere there is no doubt this Spanish team has some wonderful players in their line up but to cite them as EASILY one of the best teams EVER to have played the game has still to be proven, for history didn't start yesterday and when the country as a national side is stacked against others they are still a long way behind Brazil,Germany,Italy,Argentine,Uruguay and Netherlands, to name a few .Just another view on your subject. Cheers. jb
k77sujith
Guest
I guess people measure success by the number of goals scored by a team, which needn't always be the case. In that regard, I would rate the Brazil team of the noughties as the best. Coming back to Spain, yes, they may not score goals aplenty but to maintain that kind of possession for extensive periods is no easy task since it completely demoralizes the opponent. So much so that sometimes you feel an opposing player is contented just changing shadows. Spain has an abundance of talent with most of their players extremely graceful and elegant when they play. They are easily one the best teams ever to have played the game irrespective of the outcome in the finals tomorrow. Thanks.
jbinnie
Guest
Al - I assume from your comments you never saw the mighty Magyars at their top,1950-56, when a political revolution oversaw their demise. I like your description of how Brazil played the game back in those years you mention, but I cerainly would not be game enough to compare the football played by these 2 international teams.Then there is that other football machine at club level,the great Real Madrid, who entered a European Cup Final, no doubt with some nerves, and yet ,even after going a goal down to a very good German team, proceeded to net 7 goals of their own to another 2 replies from the Germans.Can you picture that happening today, a 10 goal European Championship Final? I very seriously doubt if we will ever see a game like that again,with both teams going at it like two boxers chasing a title. Superb,wonderful entertainment. jb
AL
Guest
Brazil 1970 & Brasil 1982 the only two great teams ever. They played with joy in their hearts, the football they played had no fear. Unlike e,g, the Spaniards and other nations are simply executive business men who are over instructed to a point where they are just robots.
MV Dave
Guest
Yes JB l appreciate all the different styles but after 4 years or so l'm ready to move on from this Spanish strikerless formation. I appreciate teams who create chances and have players(strikers) who can finish. IMO this is what prevents this Spanish side from becoming one of the truly great teams of world football history. Yes their results are very good and they don't concede many goals...but neither did the Italian sides of the 'Catenaccio' era and not many of them were exciting to watch. As you say it is one of the great features of football the distinctive styles from different continents and generations. Good luck to Spain but l will be supporting the more adventurous (geez how often could you say that about the Azzuri) side on Monday morning. Viva Italia!
Zee
Roar Guru
Beautiful Article. Prior to 2008, Spain felt like a nation divided into football clubs and territories within the country. But after we achieved the impossible, the nation came together. Spain as you said are already a great, so we have nothing to lose on Monday morning, we will enjoy the game, and do our best, but whatever happens we conquered the world, and I am so proud. Viva La Furija Roja
Worlds biggest
Guest
If Spain win the Final they will be regarded or at least in the discussion as one of the greatest ever International teams.
jbinnie
Guest
MV Dave- You must remember Dave the basic aim on the field is one of two outcomes,to win, or as famously put by Herbert Chapman at Arsenal in the 1920's "You are going on to the field with a point,don't come off without it". Isn't it strange that with the passing of almost 90 years our philosophy to the outcome of a game has barely changed. The methods,systems,numerical patterns,styles.may have gone the full circle but that matters not, here we have 2 teams in this final who are true believers in the philosophy & yet appear to use slightly different methods to achieve their aims. An intriguing game is our football is it not???Cheers jb
jbinnie
Guest
abishara -Do you mind if I offer a little advice. When talking about "great" teams of the past it would be better if you did not burden them with dates of accomplishment. Let me explain.You mention Brazil & burden them with 1970?????. This is a country that has appeared in 7 World Cup finals since 1950 (a period of 60 years& 16 competitions), the others being '58,'62,'70.'94,'98, & '02,plus another two appearances in top four play- offs in '74, & '78.This is a truly magnifenct record & yet it can be surpassed by another country you mention,Germany,who you burden with the years 1974/76. Brazil's count on top four appearance is as shown, 9 times in 16 competitions.Germany's count is even better with 11 top four appearances in the same competitions. Do you get my point? You may have the opinion that the "best" Brazilian & German teams were in the years that you "burden" them with but you will understand that many will disagree.Better to leave it to the readers imagination or knowledge is it not? All the best jb.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
I agree Fussball ist unser leben, Spain are a great side at the moment but i don't think they can be considered as one of the best every sides yet. Spain still haven't impressed me at the Euros; they have sorely missed Villa up front and their defence has been suspect in patches. I think Italy will win Monday morning and become the Euro champs for 2012 Forza Italia!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I've watched every game involving ESP at Euro2012 and I'm not convinced they are the best team at this tournament but, for sure, they've been the most successful over the past 4 years. Yes, ESP dominated IRE & FRA but neither of those opponents were capable of being Champions of Europe. ITA went 1-0 up against ESP and had numerous chances to score again - most notably Super Mario, when he won the ball from Ramos on the half-way line & ran unimpeded towards Iker but hesitated before shooting. As we saw against, GER ... Super Mario won't be hesitating ever again. When he struck his 2nd goal against GER from the edge of the penalty box, the speed of the ball was clocked at 122.3 kmph! Even at WC2010, ESP were vulnerable because, despite its midfield dominance ESP doesn't score enough goals to kill off games - the way GER kills games by blowing their opponents away on the scoreboard. At WC2010, ESP lost the opening match to SUI & both CHI & PAR matched up well against ESP & came close to knocking them out of the competition. In the finale, Robben was an "Iker toe nail away" from winning the WC for NED. It's true that ESP's defence has only conceded 1 goal (not 2 goals) at Euro2012 but, in my opinion, the defence is vulnerable and relies heavily on ESP's dominant midfield choking supply. But, with a midfield of Pirlo, De Rossi, Montolivo & Marchisio the ESP midfielders will not have their usual dominance. And, to make it interesting, that 1 goal ESP has conceded at Euro2012 was against the Italians! The opening match ESP v ITA was a beauty. Let's hope the finale is the same. My prediction (hope?): ESP 1 - 3 ITA FORZA ITALIA!
MV Dave
Guest
For a team so dominant with the ball Spain just don't create enough chances or score enough goals. Their play so far in this tournament has largely been a turn off. But yes over the past 4 years they have been very successful...even though all their major victories have been fairly dull 1-0 wins (happy for them to prove me wrong vs Italy).In terms of Sundays final...Viva Italia!!
Johnno
Guest
I think this is the no 1 team ever this spanish group what a team, Euro 2008 champions, world cup winners, and now finalist maybe win the Euro. This is the no 1 team ever sorry Pele, Garincha, Johan Neeskians, and Marradonna, but Xavi and inset are genuises, plus Torres. This team is so adaptable and strong and so well coached, sorry aussy Guss Hiddink. Some say they are boring, they maybe boring to some becoz they are so technically good. Total Football this team.