[SHUTUPMAN]

For me, thanks to the new generation, Spain are the best Sporting nation in the world particularly when considering the population.


First nation to win 3 major international trophies in football (all triumphs under a Spanish coach)

Alonso 2(likely to be 3) times F1 champion

Rafael Nadal's (Wimbledon winner,French open record) and Spanish tennis success winning Davis Cup 5 times

Second ranked Basketball team in the world after USA, current Basketball European Champions and 2006 Basketball World Champions

Winning the Tour de France with 3 different riders in four consecutive years

Superbike World Championship 2011 (Carlos Checa)

Decent at Golf too

FC Barcelona being the best football club in the world and arguably the greatest ever, La Masia producing some of the best players in the world and the number 1 football academy.

If they can finish at least top 8 in the Olympics then wow

These are not some crappy sports that only 2 or 3 nations compete in such as Darts or snooker, all these are tough competitive sports that are popular across the world.



If a small European country like Spain can do it,then why can't the UK??

[cyfer]

Having been to Spain, I am not surprised that they are so great in sport. Everywhere fitness is extremely emphasised. Even McDonalds packets and bags have sport and fitness tips on them.

[PatrickD]

Considering their size, yes they are a very impressive sporting nation. If we don't consider the size of a country then no one can touch the Chinese, at least in the Olympics where many of the smaller and slightly more obscure sports enable them to excel.

[SHUTUPMAN]

(Original post by PatrickD)
Considering their size, yes they are a very impressive sporting nation. If we don't consider the size of a country then no one can touch the Chinese, at least in the Olympics where many of the smaller and slightly more obscure sports enable them to excel.

Chinese have the biggest population in the world and are beginning to make huge investments in sport ,so no surprise.But don't they mainly excel in individual sports? They not as good in team sports..yet.

[Slick Fosbury]

Contador is a convicted drug cheat, Barca dope although it remains to be seen if the FIFA will do anything. Unlikely given their darling status.


Spain have less to lose, they're a nothing country so they can afford to take risks with drugs. Britain however have a rich history they cannot risk tainting.

[Alpharius]

Yep. I've been saying this for the past few years now. Nadal, Alonso, Lorenzo, Football, Basketball...

All they need now is to do well in the Olympics, but I don't think that'll happen.

[KingMessi]

(Original post by Slick Fosbury)
Contador is a convicted drug cheat, Barca dope although it remains to be seen if the FIFA will do anything. Unlikely given their darling status.


Spain have less to lose, they're a nothing country so they can afford to take risks with drugs. Britain however have a rich history they cannot risk tainting.

Barcelona dope? What evidence do you have for such an outrageous claim?

[SpiggyTopes]

I'm a huge F1 fan, but, I'm not sure I'd call it a sport.

It certainly isn't a sport in the same way that football or tennis are.

[SHUTUPMAN]

(Original post by SpiggyTopes)
I'm a huge F1 fan, but, I'm not sure I'd call it a sport.

It certainly isn't a sport in the same way that football or tennis are.

it's considered a sport though

[Evangelica]

(Original post by SHUTUPMAN)
For me, thanks to the new generation, Spain are the best Sporting nation in the world particularly when considering the population.


First nation to win 3 major international trophies in football (all triumphs under a Spanish coach)

Alonso 2(likely to be 3) times F1 champion

Rafael Nadal's (Wimbledon winner,French open record) and Spanish tennis success winning Davis Cup 5 times

Second ranked Basketball team in the world after USA, current Basketball European Champions and 2006 Basketball World Champions

Winning the Tour de France with 3 different riders in four consecutive years

Superbike World Championship 2011 (Carlos Checa)

Decent at Golf too

FC Barcelona being the best football club in the world and arguably the greatest ever, La Masia producing some of the best players in the world and the number 1 football academy.

If they can finish at least top 8 in the Olympics then wow

These are not some crappy sports that only 2 or 3 nations compete in such as Darts or snooker, all these are tough competitive sports that are popular across the world.



If a small European country like Spain can do it,then why can't the UK??

Meh I suppose they're pretty good but I'd never really thought of them as a great sporting nation until you mentioned it. I think that's because I tend to think of countries' strength in sport in relation to the physical strength and achievements of their sportsmen which means I don't tend to take sports like race car driving, motorbiking and golf into account, which significantly diminishes the impression of their sporting achievement.

[SHUTUPMAN]

(Original post by Evangelica)
Meh I suppose they're pretty good but I'd never really thought of them as a great sporting nation until you mentioned it. I think that's because I tend to think of countries' strength in sport in relation to the physical strength and achievements of their sportsmen which means I don't tend to take sports like race car driving, motorbiking and golf into account, which significantly diminishes the impression of their sporting achievement.

Still, they're more successful than Britain.England can only dream of having half of their success in football alone.

What country considering population has been more successful than the Spanish recently? I can't think of any.

F1 is a sport it requires great skill.They are often considered the 2nd fittest sports people in the world, behind boxers. Drivers have to train every day for a number of hours to get to the stage where they can withstand high g forces for 60 laps.But that's for another thread.

[Malevolent]

(Original post by Slick Fosbury)
Contador is a convicted drug cheat, Barca dope although it remains to be seen if the FIFA will do anything. Unlikely given their darling status.


Spain have less to lose, they're a nothing country so they can afford to take risks with drugs. Britain however have a rich history they cannot risk tainting.

Really shut up man your making yourself look stupid. Wheres the evidence Barcelona dope? Just because their good? Jesus people accuse others of doping when their doing well.

[desijut]

(Original post by SHUTUPMAN)
F1 is a sport it requires great skill.They are often considered the 2nd fittest sports people in the world, behind boxers. Drivers have to train every day for a number of hours to get to the stage where they can withstand high g forces for 60 laps.But that's for another thread.

Do you mean endurance? Fitness is a very vague term.. If it is endurance, i would say cyclist of the tour de france come first. And really, boxers first?

[Slick Fosbury]

(Original post by KingMessi)
Barcelona dope? What evidence do you have for such an outrageous claim?

The fact Xavi and Iniesta play like 80 games a season without injury.

[KingMessi]

(Original post by Slick Fosbury)
The fact Xavi and Iniesta play like 80 games a season without injury.

Both Xavi and Iniesta spent time out this season. Barcelona's season was racked by injury; Villa for six months, Abidal with a tumor, Iniesta for a month or so, Xavi with a calf tear.

That's not 'evidence' at all.

[CB91]

(Original post by SHUTUPMAN)
For me, thanks to the new generation, Spain are the best Sporting nation in the world particularly when considering the population.


First nation to win 3 major international trophies in football (all triumphs under a Spanish coach)

Alonso 2(likely to be 3) times F1 champion

Rafael Nadal's (Wimbledon winner,French open record) and Spanish tennis success winning Davis Cup 5 times

Second ranked Basketball team in the world after USA, current Basketball European Champions and 2006 Basketball World Champions

Winning the Tour de France with 3 different riders in four consecutive years

Superbike World Championship 2011 (Carlos Checa)

Decent at Golf too

FC Barcelona being the best football club in the world and arguably the greatest ever, La Masia producing some of the best players in the world and the number 1 football academy.

If they can finish at least top 8 in the Olympics then wow

These are not some crappy sports that only 2 or 3 nations compete in such as Darts or snooker, all these are tough competitive sports that are popular across the world.



If a small European country like Spain can do it,then why can't the UK??

Don't forget we dominate MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3.

Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez, Terol, Espargaro, Elias, Vinales have all won or challenged for a World Title in the last 2 and half years.

[CB91]

(Original post by Slick Fosbury)
Contador is a convicted drug cheat, Barca dope although it remains to be seen if the FIFA will do anything. Unlikely given their darling status.


Spain have less to lose, they're a nothing country so they can afford to take risks with drugs. Britain however have a rich history they cannot risk tainting.

Where is your proof they dope? There is nothing to even suggest they take PED's and they're tested regularly. In other words, you're chatting ****.

[419]

(Original post by Slick Fosbury)
Contador is a convicted drug cheat, Barca dope although it remains to be seen if the FIFA will do anything. Unlikely given their darling status.


Spain have less to lose, they're a nothing country so they can afford to take risks with drugs. Britain however have a rich history they cannot risk tainting.

The irony of this coming from a City fan

[Evangelica]

(Original post by SHUTUPMAN)
Still, they're more successful than Britain.England can only dream of having half of their success in football alone.

What country considering population has been more successful than the Spanish recently? I can't think of any.

F1 is a sport it requires great skill.They are often considered the 2nd fittest sports people in the world, behind boxers. Drivers have to train every day for a number of hours to get to the stage where they can withstand high g forces for 60 laps.But that's for another thread.

I'm not stating that they don't have good sportsmen, simply that a lot of people may not think of them immediately when thinking of sports aside from football. Yeah, they're ace at footie. I know it's early days, but it's worth mentioning that Spain hasn't even medalled in any Olympic events yet. That currently puts them behind 34 other countries.

Ps someone clearly loves Spain as a sporting country - definitely passionate!

[SHUTUPMAN]

If a small European country like Spain can do it, then why can't the UK??