Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international football
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Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballSpain are a good side, but their achievements needs to be put into context. This international footballing era is actually quite weak compared to yesteryears. Think about it, look at how piss poor everybody else has been in the time they've dominated:
- A fractured french squad who have been mediocre since Zidane's retirement
- A 2008 ageing German squad and work-in-progress baby German squads of 2010 and 2012
- A one-man Italian team who rely totally on Pirlo
- A one-man Portugese team in Ronaldo. Portugal are indefinitely worse than in 2004 for example when they had a much stronger team collectively with Figo, Deco, etc
- A post-golden generation England squad. Nowadays we let the likes of Jordan Henderson represent us
- Dutch team full of individual stars but with the worse management around.
- Probably the weakest Brazilian squad (from around 2006-now) in history.
- Again, one of the worst Argentinia team to exist. Full of superstars who perform well only at club level. Even a baby German squad thumped these mugs 4-0 at the last WC
Its no wonder they've been able to win everything, theres no-one really to challenge them. Attaching tags like 'greatest of all time' to this Spanish side is way over the top. Nevermind the great Brazil of 1970, I'm willing to bet that the French team from 1998-2000 would take apart this Spanish squad. Just look at how an over-the-hill Zidane schooled this Spanish squad just two years before their successful period began in the 2006 world cup: (Note that 8 of the 11 Spanish players who played in that match have each been a major part from 2008 onwards, so its not like that 2006 team was totally different)
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballOr...
Spain are THAT good that they make everyone else look mediocre at best?
Let's not forget that Spain's dominance coincides with Barcelona's over the past 4 years, who themselves are discussed along with others as one of the greatest club sides in history. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballI think it's a mixture - there's no doubt that Spain are an extraordinary team at the moment. But equally, as you say, the other teams haven't really jammed as well, despite their talents, creating a larger than usual gap in quality.
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballHave you ever seen a team before that could control a game like the current Spanish team does?
No. You haven't.
Not to mention Spain were without their best striker (not even needing strikers shows how good they are) and have no weak points in the team whatsoever. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballWhere the **** were Spain when Barcelona were winning la liga titles and champions league from 2004-2006?(Original post by Zerforax)
Or...
Spain are THAT good that they make everyone else look mediocre at best?
Let's not forget that Spain's dominance coincides with Barcelona's over the past 4 years, who themselves are discussed along with others as one of the greatest club sides in history.
Oh, they didn't have a weak era of international football teams to take advantage of. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballI think Spain have showed that first of all possession is important, the ability to retain the ball if you want is essential. Secondly they have broken down the tradition formation with none of their players playing conventional roles. Finally they have shown how attacking and defending as a team all pushing, all pressing, is far more effective than this staggered defender, midfielder, striker system. I don't think the Spanish system is perfect. I think Bilbao's style under Bielsa is more advanced, but no team with the personnel has yet attempted it. I think that will be the style of trump the Spanish style.
So glad Iniesta won player of the tournament, I think he the best player in the Spanish squad and has been for some time. Such a dynamic player. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballPeople have been scratching their heads since the 90s about why a set up which consistently produces such brilliant and cohesive teams isn't totally dominant...
Tbh it's just sour grapes, that spanish team would have crushed any 'golden generation' england team. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballThe (supposed) mediocrity of the other sides does not adequately explain why Spain have won three successive tournaments. Yes, the other sides aren't at their strongest, and that's a totally valid point, but this Spain side have such a high quality.
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballThe spanish team is still amazing, you cant deny that. although other teams haven't been as good recently the spanish team are still one of the best we've seen in recent times. look at their team and you can see quality throughout. Their substitutes bench consists of mata, torres, pedro, valdez, reina, navas. not to mention villa and puyol who were injured for the tournament! they have insane technical ability throughout, and although the french '98 or '06 team were amazing too, it would be a close match between the two if they played spain now. the '06 spain team has improved considerably over the years.
how can you call the Argentinian team one of the worst to exist??? the 2012 squad, has the meanest attack in the world! di maria, aguero, higuain, tevez and messi. not to mention, mascherano, gago and zanetti. they didnt perform at the last world cup, but they are a force to be reckoned with.
the '02 brazil team would beat them though i think, with the magic trio of ronaldo, ronaldiniho & rivaldo. young kaka was also in that squad! -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballOr in 2004 when Portugal and Greece made the final.(Original post by ThE_RozZeRs)
Spain weren't half as good then as they are now. If anything it was a weak era of international football in 2006 WC, seeing as Italy and France were massive underdogs. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballlike I said, 8 of the 11 spanish players in 2006 are still around (xavi, cassillas, puyol, alonso, villa, torres, etc)(Original post by ThE_RozZeRs)
Spain weren't half as good then as they are now. If anything it was a weak era of international football in 2006 WC, seeing as Italy and France were massive underdogs.
That squad is almost the same as the the euro winning team of 2008, 2012 and WC winners in 2010. It says alot that they won't even able to take advanatge of a weak era in 2006 (which was definitelt stronger than in the 2010 WC) -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballthey've been consistent, I'll give them that, but the best? No way(Original post by KingMessi)
The (supposed) mediocrity of the other sides does not adequately explain why Spain have won three successive tournaments. Yes, the other sides aren't at their strongest, and that's a totally valid point, but this Spain side have such a high quality. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballYou are aware that football is a dynamic game and players both improve and deteriorate, as do football teams. It really doesn't mean much at all that these players weren't able to win in 2006. They've improved both individually and as a team since then - look at Iniesta, Villa, Alonso and suchlike.(Original post by Jack93o)
like I said, 8 of the 11 spanish players in 2006 are still around (xavi, cassillas, puyol, alonso, villa, torres, etc)
That squad is almost the same as the the euro winning team of 2008, 2012 and WC winners in 2010. It says alot that they won't even able to take advanatge of a weak era in 2006 (which was definitelt stronger than in the 2010 WC) -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballAt the end of the day, 'the best' is a completely meaningless concept in this context because it's so inherently subjective and dependent on who people have watched at the time. I don't really want to discuss whether this Spain side are the best of all time because it becomes a completely pointless discussion. I will, however, disagree that the main (or only) factor in Spain's success has been a trend of mediocrity across the board.(Original post by Jack93o)
they've been consistent, I'll give them that, but the best? No way -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballYea in penalties. They went on to win a poor German side barely 1:0 even with Germany having chances to score. In '10 they beat a German side by a corner kick of all things (people praise them for their passing, they need corner to score). They did not deserve to win that game.(Original post by ThE_RozZeRs)
xavi alonso etc werent at their peak during that time, dont forget, spain knocked out italy in 2008, only 2 years after WC. So thats your theory blown out of the window really. As for 2002 WC, south korea made it to the SF, your saying they are one of the greatest teams in that era then?
In fact, imo, this year's Spanish team is the best they ever had. They key players are all mature now, without being too old - I want to see Xavi in 2 years when he is 34 - and they have had more time practising playing together now over 4 years.
The one thing that sets this Spanish team aside is the fact that they perform when it matters. Germany this year had the potential but were piss poor against Italy. Italy, I don't know what they were doing in the final. Spain again beat someone on penalties so to me what sets this Spanish side apart is the fact they perform in the key moments AND they do get lucky. -
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Re: Spain have benefitted from a weak era of international footballWas about to say this^^^(Original post by Aack)
I think it's a mixture - there's no doubt that Spain are an extraordinary team at the moment. But equally, as you say, the other teams haven't really jammed as well, despite their talents, creating a larger than usual gap in quality.
