Spanish, German or French Golden Generation

[Skills]

Spain 2008 - 2012 : achieved the most by far, winning everything available during that time period.

Germany 2010 - 16 : probably the most consistent over a longer period of time with a WC SF, WC, 2x Euro SF. Probably the most entertaining of the lot and the 7-1 World Cup Semi Final win over Brazil is the most memorable game of the 21st century so far.

France 2016 - now : they're still in the middle of the ride at the moment with a WC, and another Euro finals.

Now obviously Spain achieved the most by far with 2 euros & a world cup. But in terms of talent, were they really that far ahead of Germany & this current French group of players? Do Germany have enough to show for with just 1 WC considering the talent they've had in the last decade?

 

[adexkola]

I'm not sure this is a debate.

Spain first by far. Germany or France for second is debatable (does Portugal deserve inclusion?)

 

[VorZakone]

Nothing from Germany or France can touch peak Xavi & Iniesta.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

Germany.

Spain we’re boring as Fcuk. Almost unwatchable.

 

[Rektsanwalt]

I'm not sure this is a debate.

Spain first by far. Germany or France for second is debatable (does Portugal deserve inclusion?)

Why should Portugal be included? No world Cup and a pretty average team fluking the last Euros. Nothing golden I‘d say.

 

[roonster09]

Germany.

Spain we’re boring as Fcuk. Almost unwatchable.

2008 Spain was good to watch, 2010 was very boring, the whole world cup was shit. Spain 2012 was again brilliant to watch.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

on quality, Spain by far. Germany were the most fun to watch.

 

[UnrelatedPsuedo]

France 98 & 00 beats all 3 to be fair. Easily.

 

[Piratesoup]

Spain was tedious, but that team was a pretty damn perfect machine. Overall the best (and worst) NT I've seen over a 4 year period.

Germany (no bias, promise) hit the highest heights, when that team was on song it was unbeatable. Didn't reach spain's consistency, though.

France, on paper, has it all on paper. Lets see if they can shoot themselves in the knee with drama and bullshit.

 

[harms]

Spain were by far the best.

 

[hasanejaz88]

It's not even a debate. Spain were arguably the most dominant national team in history.

Germany v France is a better debate. Both have 1 World Cup, I suppose Germany reached the later stages more.

That being said, this French generation is far from over. They have another train coming through and they can easily accomplish a lot in the next international tournaments.

 

[Rektsanwalt]

Spain had the highest average quality with insane peaks and the best midfield in international history of all time. Its not surprising that they achieved these great successes.
Germany underperformed imo. One title to show is not enough.

 

[tomaldinho1]

Germany.

Spain we’re boring as Fcuk. Almost unwatchable.

I'm assuming this is a throwaway comment because they definitely weren't.

• First Euros they were top scoring team & won the most games outright. They were great to watch.
• WC 2010 they were boring (in that I assume you aren't a fan of possession football) but then, they had an incredibly difficult run in - Portugal, Paraguay, Germany, Netherlands is 3/4 top tier opponents, particularly the last two who were beating the other big favourites. (Netherlands had beaten Brasil irc and Germany put 4 past England and Argentina).
• Euro 2012 they were, again, highest scoring team, joint 1st for most outright wins & conceded a single fecking goal. That was about as good a national team performance in a tournament as you're likely to ever see. Their draw was also incrediny hard with France, Portugal, Italy (who they spanked 4-0).

 

[adexkola]

Germany.

Spain we’re boring as Fcuk. Almost unwatchable.

Their opponents were boring.

 

[Luke1995]

Isn't 1998 to 2001 France more of a golden generation than the current squad ?

They did follow the World Cup win with a Euro win and a Confederations Cup win.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Spain were clearly the best. Don't even think it's close either.

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

Spain were the best. Probably the best national team since Brazil’s 1970.

 

[FatTails]

Spain by far. They were untouchable. France are wasting this generation of players with Deschamps.

 

[Semper Fudge]

Their opponents were boring.

Spain were very dull unless you’re a fan of that style of football.

 

[Dave Smith]

Germany.

Spain we’re boring as Fcuk. Almost unwatchable.

Spain where the best side, in that during that period hardly anyone could lay a glove on them. The Germans were more fun to watch but they were more up and down in their consistency game to game. So, I would have to say Spain where the best as they were to well oiled.

However, I completely agree. Tika taka football was awful and the whole BS that went around it was nauseating.

 

[OutlawGER]

I am still extremely disappointed that Germany lost the semifinal in 2012 against Italy due to Löw shitting his pants.

I wanted to see the clash Spain v Germany in a final once again. I think 2012 was the best time we could have seen both teams relatively close to their peak at the same time. In 2008 and 2010 it was still too early for us to beat Spain, but in 2012 i think it could have happened.


Having that said, Spain is first followed by Germany. I think France is not even close to those two. Both at their peak would have beaten 2018's France comfortably. France has an amazing squad with an amazing depth, but they clearly lack true creativity and majestro players. Their midfield is too much box2box and can't truly dominate strong opposition.

 

[bosnian_red]

Spain easily. They were boring in 2010 and 2012 but only because they were so fecking dominant and in control. In 2008 they were a very good team to watch though, with both Villa and Torres in great form.

Germany was good but nowhere close. France has a very good crop of players who very few would get into that Spain team. Just look at the players those Spain teams had, they were stacked.

If I could do a combined team of players from that generation of Spanish players, and the generation of German and French players, it would be:

Villa Torres Mbappe
Iniesta Xavi
Alonso
Alba Ramos Puyol Lahm
Neuer​

Yes Ramos played RB and it was Pique, but I need Ramos in there and Lahm in there. Leaving out way more quality Spanish players than French or German players too.

 

[Lay]

Spain were boring but they were so damn dominant.

 

[jesperjaap]

Spain not just because they were the best side, not by a long way like some are suggestingi in my opinion....but SPain were always the pernennial failures in major tournaments before this, so often not even making it out of groups at major tournaments, so to go from that to so dominant was the biggest achievement and golden in comparison to there usuaol sides. Germany and France have had so many good sides that its an argument this wasnt even there golden generation.

Also in the case of France, there is a real golden generation coming thorugh again now anyway, Mbappe is still a youngster really and they have a whole host of hugely talented youngsters not even making that squad.

With where England are now, this tournament is absolutely huge I feel for us for the next decade of international football as we have the likes of Saka, and Bellingham with minutes who are so young, plus the likes of Foden, Mount 7 Reece James who are 21. Then Rashford and Rice who are 23 or under and oher young players within the squad all gaining valuable experience with more to come through like Greenwood. The experience these playes are getting already is invaluable and just imagine the confidence this squad can go on to other tournaments over the next decade if we were to reach a final or win it. Really could be a golden generation for us too. Only really Henderson, Walker and Trippier may be too old for the next Euros and already there are right backs in TAA and Bissaka can replace them

 

[adexkola]

Spain were very dull unless you’re a fan of that style of football.

This statement doesn't make any sense. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some people will find some styles boring regardless (I think such people have a limited scope of football but to each their own)

That said, the drudgery in those matches is solely due to the opponents who dragged a 747 across the pitch from kick-off. I've never seen a boring match where the opponent came ready to take the game to Spain.

 

[adexkola]

Spain easily. They were boring in 2010 and 2012 but only because they were so fecking dominant and in control. In 2008 they were a very good team to watch though, with both Villa and Torres in great form.

Germany was good but nowhere close. France has a very good crop of players who very few would get into that Spain team. Just look at the players those Spain teams had, they were stacked.

If I could do a combined team of players from that generation of Spanish players, and the generation of German and French players, it would be:

Villa Torres Mbappe
Iniesta Xavi
Alonso
Alba Ramos Puyol Lahm
Neuer​

Yes Ramos played RB and it was Pique, but I need Ramos in there and Lahm in there. Leaving out way more quality Spanish players than French or German players too.

Why? He wasn't the match winner for Spain that he was for Real Madrid. Pique was the better CB for Spain (and overall but that's a different debate entirely)

 

[Morty_]

It will be a long time until we see a national team win 3 tournaments in a row again, the consistency, quality and a bit of luck you need for that is incredible.

 

[tentan]

1. Spain (greatest international side ever in my opinion)
2. Germany (Very consistent)
3. France (Good side but not as strong as the other two)

 

[Cloud7]

That Spain team was something else. Most dominant international team I’ve ever watched in my life.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I'm not sure this is a debate.

Spain first by far. Germany or France for second is debatable (does Portugal deserve inclusion?)

This. It's not even a contest is it? Three international tournament wins in a row compared to.... one WC?

 

[adexkola]

Why should Portugal be included? No world Cup and a pretty average team fluking the last Euros. Nothing golden I‘d say.

Yeah forgot the other 3 all won the WC.

Speaking of, it's about time the Jules Rimet trophy returned to the Americas... what's it been... since 2006?

 

[InfiniteBoredom]

Yeah forgot the other 3 all won the WC.

Speaking of, it's about time the Jules Rimet trophy returned to the Americas... what's it been... since 2006?

2002. Italy won 06.

 

[krentz]

Spain easily. They were boring in 2010 and 2012 but only because they were so fecking dominant and in control. In 2008 they were a very good team to watch though, with both Villa and Torres in great form.

Germany was good but nowhere close. France has a very good crop of players who very few would get into that Spain team. Just look at the players those Spain teams had, they were stacked.

If I could do a combined team of players from that generation of Spanish players, and the generation of German and French players, it would be:

Villa Torres Mbappe
Iniesta Xavi
Alonso
Alba Ramos Puyol Lahm
Neuer​

Yes Ramos played RB and it was Pique, but I need Ramos in there and Lahm in there. Leaving out way more quality Spanish players than French or German players too.

The disrespect toward Iker Casillas is unreal. I'd suggest you to re-watch his performance in EURO 2008 and wC 2010, he was far better than Neuer ever been for Germany. His 1v1 save against Robben in final 2010 stopped Netherlands from winning the world Cup

 

[njred]

France 2016 - now : they're still in the middle of the ride at the moment with a WC, and another Euro finals.

France 98-00 was their Golden generation. Zidane, Henry, Pires, Vieira, Anelka,
Blanc, Desailly, Leboeuf, Thuram , Deschamps, Petit, Trezeguet to name a few.

 

[bosnian_red]

The disrespect toward Iker Casillas is unreal. I'd suggest you to re-watch his performance in EURO 2008 and wC 2010, he was far better than Neuer ever been for Germany. His 1v1 save against Robben in final 2010 stopped Netherlands from winning the world Cup

Not disrespectful, I just think Neuer has been a better goalkeeper at his peak than Casillas.

 

[paraguayo]

Feel like people throw 'golden generation' out too much.

Any team that wins something has a golden generation?

 

[Lebo]

Why is Spain the greatest international side ever? I’m pretty sure Brazil 1997 to 2002 was better and achieved more. Copa America twice, Confederations cup and World Cup finals twice winning 1. That side with Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario, Ronaldinho, Carlos, Cafu was superior to anything I’ve seen in world and club football. I’m in my 30s

 

[RedRonaldo]

The best golden generation I’ve seen:
1. Brazil 98-02
2. France 98-01
3. Spain 08-12
4. Germany 10-16
5. France 16-current

 

[Wolf1992]

France 96 - 2006 was superior than the current France if we are talking about quality.
80s France was also superior than the current France.

No point in comparing current France (who is great in quality) with Spain 2008-2012.
You are a comparing best Spain generation in history, with a french generation that it's great but it isn't the best from France historically...kind of unfair.

 

[Skills]

Feel like people throw 'golden generation' out too much.

Any team that wins something has a golden generation?

No, see Portugal.