Greatest National Teams of All time

European Championships of the year 2012 signed off in style with Spain becoming
the first nation to defend their European honor successfully. Their victory aroused a particular question in every football fans’ mind. Not whether they are the best national team in the world right now, but are they the best national team of all time? No one can take a bold decision and say that they are the best of all time. Not when there were teams like the Brazil and West Germany in the past. How can one compare the teams when they are not of the same generation? It is harsh when one say that Messi is better than Pele or Maradona without even seeing what they have contributed to football (Not their Personal Dispute). Hence, let us see here some of the Greatest National sides of all time (Not in any Specific order).

ITALY (1930s)

Italy is one of the proud of footballing nations of all time. They have contributed a lot to football. As a footballing nation they enjoyed a great legacy in 1930s when they won 2 World Cups and a Olympic gold. Their rise to power started with a bronze medal in 1928 Summer Olympics. Later, they won 1934 World Cup and an Olympic gold in the year 1936. They became the first nation to win three international tournaments in a row when they successfully defended their World Cup in 1938 under the leadership of Vittorio Pozzo.  Giuseppe Meazza, who is considered as one of the best Italian Football players of all time, with other stars like Luis Monti, Giovanni Ferrari, Virginio Rosetta  helped the Azzurri win their first World cup title. Till now that generation of Italian Players are considered as a golden generation of Italy’s football.

BRAZIL (1960s)

As we all know Brazil are the most successful national side in both – World Cup and Confederations Cup. They have five world titles in their closet and along with 8 Copa America titles. They enjoyed their golden era from 1958-1970 winning no less than 3 FIFA World Cups. Though they were unsuccessful in other tournaments three world cups speak for itself. They started their run by winning the 1958 edition of World cup. They defended their World Cup in the year 1962 there by becoming only the second nation to retain their world title successfully. Political influences cost them the 1966 World Cup. However, they went on to win the 1970 World Cup there by becoming the First nation to win three World Cups. Pele’s contribution to Brazil in their golden era will never be forgotten. Other notable players of that era were Bellini, Didi, Garrincha, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto Torres and lot of other top quality players though they contributed in different World Cups. That generation of players will never be forgotten for their contribution to Brazilian Football.

WEST GERMANY (1970-80s)

Slowly the Germans are beginning to get a chokers tag in international football. Gone are the days when they used to win International tournaments consistently. But none can question the quality and talent they possess even now. However, as a nation they enjoyed most of their success in 1970s and 1980s under the guidance of different set of players. As a team they enjoyed more success in early 1970s with players like Gerd Muller, the all time leading scorer in World Cups till 2006, Franz Beckenbauer, Jupp Heynckes and other stars. They won the European Championship in 1972 followed by the World Cup triumph in 1974. They came close in achieving what Spain has achieved now. However, they lost the 1976 European championship final to Czechoslovakia in penalties. Later they won the European cup in 1980. Germans have a distinction of finishing as runners up many times as they finished as runners up two times in the World cup in 1980s. Later, they won the World Cup back in 1990.

BRAZIL (1990s)

After a dry era, Brazilian football evolved back to its glorious past. They came back to winning ways by winning the Copa America in the year 1989. This was well the stepping stone for success. Brazil won their fourth World Cup in 1994. Later they won the Copa America in 1997. They came close in defending their World Cup title before they lost the final to France, another legendary team in the making. Though, Brazil did retained their Copa America crown in 1999. Brazil went on to win their fifth World Cup when they thumped Germany 2-0 in the final of 2002 World Cup. No one will ever forget the contribution of ‘Three Rs’ – Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho in the 2002 World Cup. Some of the star players who marked the return of Brazil to elite were Dunga, Tafferel, Romario, Jorginho etc. This era marked the renaissance in Brazilian Football and Brazil started producing Legends once again.

France (LATE 1990s AND EARLY 2000 s)

France had their golden era when they won the World Cup and Euro Cup in a row. They won their first World Cup in 1998. Later they won their Second European Championship in the year 2000. There is no need in saying about the brilliance of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Viera ,Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps. Later they came close in winning the 2006 World Cup but Zidane’s red card saw France lose the final to Italy in the finals. Thus, ended the golden generation of French football.

SPAIN (2008-PRESENT)

  The era that we live now is the golden generation of Spainsh sport as a whole, let alone football. Spainsh Football team ended their 44 year trophy drought when they won the Euro 2008. As we all know they went on to win their first ever World Cup in 2010. They started this year’s Euro 2012 as favourites and went on to fulfill the expectation of entire kingdom of Spainsh fans thereby becoming the first country to defend their European title. This in itself is a history in the making. There is no need to mention the genius in Xavi, Iniesta and other players who let their club rivalry apart and helped Spain to reach such a feat. With young players growing well they are all set to win their fourth Major tournament in a row when they travel to Brazil in 2014.

Comment your favourite team! Also comment if I had missed some team!