Spain

[CuleLife4Life]

That moment when you realize that if Messi had elected to play for Spain, he'd have 1 World Cup and 2 European Championships. :/

LOL so true. But as a South American, I'm glad he didn't. We have to stick to our roots

 

[KyletheMuslim]

I really hope Del Bosque resigns gracefully, the way we played against ukraine and holland was shameful

 

[CuleLife4Life]

I really hope Del Bosque resigns gracefully, the way we played against ukraine and holland was shameful

He, like Iker, simply don't know when its time to say goodbye.

 

[putogusiluz8]

He, like Iker, simply don't know when its time to say goodbye.

Where's Andrea Bocelli when you need him.

 

[StarLord]

LOL so true. But as a South American, I'm glad he didn't. We have to stick to our roots

And potentially even more.

 

[alittlebitter]

when leo was asked to join spain, they were still mostly known for being underachievers who flopped out at the group stage during Euro 2004 lol. No one could predict that they would become an powerhouse NT.

 

[CuleLife4Life]

when leo was asked to join spain, they were still mostly known for being underachievers who flopped out at the group stage during Euro 2004 lol. No one could predict that they would become an powerhouse NT.

True but he is also a proud Argentine who still tries to still to his culture even when he has lived now half his life in Spain. I doubt even if they were powerhouses back in his time he would have joined them.

 

[Leo_Messi]

when leo was asked to join spain, they were still mostly known for being underachievers who flopped out at the group stage during Euro 2004 lol. No one could predict that they would become an powerhouse NT.

We always had great players. Almost at least. Long before Del Bosque and the late Aragonés. The problem was the lack of a winner mentality that national teams such as Brazil, Italy and Germany always had/have, infighting within the squad, a lack of a defined playing style and stubborn managers who played football that did not suit the players that they had at their disposal. Luck was often against the team as well. Look no further than the 2002 World Cup and the robbery against South Korea in the quarter-finals. I fell that we could have won that World Cup. I really do.

Also since Messi became a world beater (2008) we have been totally dominant outside of the abysmal performance this past World Cup in Brazil. Winning 3 main tournaments in a row. So Messi would likely not have made a big difference anyway. At most made the team even more dominant.

Besides Messi playing for Spain (he has Spanish ancestry on his mother's side) was never relevant to begin with. He always stated that he wanted to play for Argentina.

 

[Morten]

Speaking of Spains nt history. I find it interesting that Spain started their beast-mode before Guardiola was Barcelona-manager, so one could think that he drawed inspiration from the NT and not the other way around as many think.

 

[StarLord]

Speaking of Spains nt history. I find it interesting that Spain started their beast-mode before Guardiola was Barcelona-manager, so one could think that he drawed inspiration from the NT and not the other way around as many think.

Spain and Barcelona went into beast-mode because they had the players to do so. Managers are secondary at best.

We always had great players. Almost at least. Long before Del Bosque and the late Aragonés. The problem was the lack of a winner mentality that national teams such as Brazil, Italy and Germany always had/have, infighting within the squad, a lack of a defined playing style and stubborn managers who played football that did not suit the players that they had at their disposal. Luck was often against the team as well. Look no further than the 2002 World Cup and the robbery against South Korea in the quarter-finals. I fell that we could have won that World Cup. I really do.


Also since Messi became a world beater (2008) we have been totally dominant outside of the abysmal performance this past World Cup in Brazil. Winning 3 main tournaments in a row. So Messi would likely not have made a big difference anyway. At most made the team even more dominant.

Besides Messi playing for Spain (he has Spanish ancestry on his mother's side) was never relevant to begin with. He always stated that he wanted to play for Argentina.

That Korea QF in 2002 was daylight robbery! The Spanish team of that year could definitely have won the WC. Such a shame.

 

[alittlebitter]

Speaking of Spains nt history. I find it interesting that Spain started their beast-mode before Guardiola was Barcelona-manager, so one could think that he drawed inspiration from the NT and not the other way around as many think.

yeah their beast mode started with aragones, who I'm sure most people in Spain credit for all their successes. and quite frankly the 2008 team was far more fun to watch than the eventual "lemme pass the fuck out of the opponents" that became del bosque's team.

Also since Messi became a world beater (2008) we have been totally dominant outside of the abysmal performance this past World Cup in Brazil. Winning 3 main tournaments in a row. So Messi would likely not have made a big difference anyway. At most made the team even more dominant.

Besides Messi playing for Spain (he has Spanish ancestry on his mother's side) was never relevant to begin with. He always stated that he wanted to play for Argentina.

yeah they didn't need messi to win anything. the core of the team was great (and all from barca so they already had great chemistry) but I imagine someone like Messi would've made that 2010 team a little more exciting to watch.

and ugh that WC 2002 vid still makes me mad. Spain and Italy (I think it was?) were both fucked over by dodgy referees

 

[Gnidrologist]

Speaking of Spains nt history. I find it interesting that Spain started their beast-mode before Guardiola was Barcelona-manager, so one could think that he drawed inspiration from the NT and not the other way around as many think.

2008 team played nowhere near like 2010 and 12 one. VdB simply copy pasted Guardiola's shtick. That is painfully obvious.

 

[Morten]

2008 team played nowhere near like 2010 and 12 one. VdB simply copy pasted Guardiola's shtick. That is painfully obvious.

Sure, but Xavi, Iniesta and others already had their big breakthrough before Guardiola, so its not like he really discovered them. He probably saw how well they did in 2008 and decided to give them the roles they did in Barca.

 

[Blaugrana Bull]

Aragones played a 4-4-2 in 2008. Villa was injured before the final and that was the reason Torres played as a sole striker. And Iniesta played on the wing for the whole tournament.
Pep's system was totally different and he used Iniesta in a different role.

 

[Gnidrologist]

To add to that, Xavi wasn't nearly as crucial as he was in tiki-taka system and Aragones constantly subbed him off for Cazorla/Cesc around the 60th minute in almost every match. Iniesta not only played in different position, he wasn't even regular starter. They did both shine in the final stages of the tournament and that was, what i think, the start of their legend.