Spain’s Golden Generation of 2008-2012

If you browse the football history books, a few highly regarded international teams are considered among the greatest.

Brazil in 1970 is an example many people point to. The French team of 1998-2000 was also a brilliantly balanced unit.

It doesn’t always mean they dominate their era. Belgium’s recent golden generation finished 3rd in the 2018 World Cup. Still a phenomenal achievement for a country of its size, and the same applies to Croatia’s current squad too, who went one better than Belgium, and made the final, eventually losing to France.

The 2022 World Cup Final was the most fantastic World Cup Final of all time.

It was a fitting crowning achievement for the greatest player of all time. However, although Argentina lifted the trophy, few would say it was a golden generation and more of a golden man surrounded by highly competent players.

The money wagered throughout the World Cup was in the billions of dollars. Although online casino is popular, and always has the fans’ attention, it took a back step when the World Cup was on as sportsbooks worldwide weighed up who would win the tournament.

Spain’s golden generation won the World Cup in 2010 and became the bookies’ favourite. So, we will go through this era of Spanish talent and see whether they’re the most fantastic set of international footballers in this century so far.

Many players who went on to dominate international and domestic football came through the ranks of the biggest clubs in Spain. For instance, Barcelona had

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Real Madrid had future captains Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas coming through the ranks.

Although Casillas was by far the oldest of this golden generation, his ability between the sticks was a key reason why his footballing nation eventually shook off the unwanted label of failing on the biggest stage.

Let’s not forget the players who came through at other Spanish teams, like David Silva, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres. Any two or three of these players would have been good enough to propel any squad to the latter stages of any competition, domestically and internationally.

But, astonishingly, this team had at least 12 genuinely world-class players, arguably with one in every position at their peak.

Even the fringe players utilised as substitutions were better than some first-team players for other established nations. However, the depth of the squad was frightening.

The stage was set for Euro 2008, when enough of these players had high-quality first-team experience domestically, winning trophies and gaining valuable experience at the top level to get together on the world stage.

As a result, Spain entered the European Championships as the top-seeded team, defeating all their opponents in the group stages.

David Villa won the Golden Boot with four goals. Following a 1-0 win in the final against Germany, they became only the second team to finish the group stage with a 100% record and go on to win the trophy – the prodigal songs had become the champions.

Squashed in between these two colossal international tournaments, FC Barcelona created one of the most outstanding domestic teams ever compiled.

It was spearheaded by the magisterial Lionel Messi, who achieved his destiny at the 2022 World Cup. Moreover, Pep Guardiola developed a brand of football that bewildered teams across Europe, as FC Barcelona lifted the 2009 UEFA Champions League.

The spine of this team consisted of Iniesta, Xavi and Carlos Puyol, three of Spain’s finest. Not only did they have the confidence of the 2008 win behind them, but they had also now dominated the domestic and continental club landscape.

Therefore, this nucleus of players had the experience and confidence to lift the biggest international trophy.

They went into the tournament as favourites, much like they did in 2008, and lifted the trophy following a winner in the final from Andres Iniesta.

The reputation of this Spanish team now preceded them. Having won back-to-back international tournaments, Barcelona had become one of the greatest club teams ever. They demolished their way to yet another UEFA Champions League in 2011.

However, Spanish football dominated the domestic scene, with Cristiano Ronaldo driving Real Madrid close to Guardiola’s incredible squad.

So much so he is still held in the highest esteem by his ex-colleagues at Real Madrid. Andres Iniesta won player of the tournament, and this was undoubtedly helped due to the level he was performing at domestically.

Spain romped to victory yet again as their golden generation was at the peak of their powers.

Following a 4-0 destruction of Italy in the final, the Spanish rightfully took their place as the most outstanding team of their generation, and one of the greatest international teams ever.

They have since fizzled and been replaced by Belgium, France, and Croatia, but for those who remember watching this team at the time, there aren’t many teams that have ever reached this level, and it’ll be a long time before we see another one again.