Spain - the greatest international team of all time?

Spanish dynasty continues with third successive major tournament win

(c) braveheartsports, Flickr

Spain peaked at the perfect time during Euro 2012 to sweep aside Italy with a 4-0 final win in Kiev; a win which left very few doubting who the world's best footballing nation is.  Having become the first team to retain the European Championship – and doing this either side of victory at World Cup 2010– the question is now being asked as to whether this Spanish side is the greatest international team of all time.  Vicente Del Bosque's men certainly deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the Brazilian side of 1970 and the West German side of 1990, as they are currently in a class of their own.  But it is worth stepping back and taking a look at the strengths of this Spanish side as they were crowned European Champions – again.

Injuries ruled David Villa and Carlos Puyol out of the tournament.  Had Villa been fit, it is unlikely that Del Bosque would have adopted a 4-5-1/4-6-0 formation with Cesc Fabregas as the most forward player.  This begs the question as to whether Fabregas, who performed strongly throughout Euro 2012, would have been a regular starter in the side, despite a fine debut season with Barcelona.  The former Arsenal midfielder was influential in this tournament, scoring two goals and setting up several more.  But had Villa been available, his opportunities may have been limited.

Puyol's absence was also intriguing.  The centre back pairing of Puyol and Gerard Pique has become an increasingly successful force both at both club and international level, but injury to the 34-year old forced Del Bosque to make a change.  Sergio Ramos, who plays more predominantly as a full back for Real Madrid, stepped in at centre back and was solid throughout the tournament both in defence and attack – despite playing (arguably) out of position.  Had Puyol been available, Ramos would almost certainly have been utilised as a full back, and Spain's defence may not have been as watertight (La Furia Roja conceded just one goal in six games).

Ten of Spain's starting eleven for the final against Italy were named in UEFA's Team of the Tournament.  The teams with the second highest number of representatives were Germany and Italy, with four players respectively.  Andrés Iniesta was named UEFA Player of the Tournament, and Fernando Torres won the Golden Boot, despite only playing the equivalent of slightly more than two games worth of football at Euro 2012 (the Chelsea striker was on the field for just 188 minutes plus added time).  And until the final, Spain rarely seemed to get out of second gear.  Each individual Spanish player could be singled out for high praise for their performance at Euro 2012, but it would take forever, and much of it goes without saying.

Questions will be asked as to how long this Spanish dynasty will continue.  Xavi Hernandez, Carlos Puyol and Xabi Alonso will be huge losses when their international playing days are over (all three are aged 30 or over), but with the likes of Jordi Alba and Javi Martínez coming through the ranks, there is no reason why Spain cannot continue to dominate with Del Bosque at the helm.  Many already consider them to the best international side of all time; however, the sign of true dominance would certainly be to win the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, and thus become the first non-South American side to win a World Cup on South American soil.  Another tournament win would also make it three from three for Del Bosque, and Spain are surely already the favourites to lift the trophy two years from now.