Congratulations to Spain for being the first European team to win thee major international tournaments. While I didn't think they were at their best throughout the tournament (I thought Germany were the best) but they were on another level in the final. Even the great master Andrea Pirlo couldn't play. Spain also did really well without top goalscorer David Villa and commanding centre back Carles Puyol.

Also hats off to Casillas, Iniesta, Ramos, Xavi to be the four players to only start the 2008, 2010 and 2012 finals.

Spain. Love the country, love the city. Got some kind of Spanish thing going on for me XD

I love the way they play football. Pass, move, find space, repeat. It's the way I like how football is to be played. They've shown that you don't need to be big sized, have strength of a brute or have pace like a speed demon. The game is played with your brain and using your non physical attributes to the max. It has become an identity for Spaniards because I've played with Spanish people and they play the same as well!!

So there's no secret I'm also a fan of Barcelona (they're my Spanish team) but I will always choose Liverpool over them.

I see alot of similarities between Barcelona and Liverpool so that's one reason why I like Barca. As I've stated while I like the way Spain play, I became a Spain fan because Liverpool then had Rafa Benitez as manager with Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Alvaro Arbeloa in the team. Don't forget Fernando Morientes, Luis Garcia before and Albert Riera after as well.

Some say they are boring because they just pass, pass, pass and pass but I disagree.

A great man once said ...

Football is a simple game based on the giving and taking of passes, of controlling the ball and of making yourself available to receive a pass. It is terribly simple.
- Bill Shankly

And Spain are amazingly simple and yet possible one of the greatest teams ever.

People often forget that their young age groups (u-21, u-19, u-17 and so on) also play the same way. While the likes of Puyol, Xavi, Xabi, Villa may not be in the first team or even in the squad in the next World Cup or Euros, there's still Javi Martinez, Juan Mata, Cesc Fabregas, Iker Muniain, Christian Tello, Isaac Cuenca, Callejon and all.

Wouldn't be surprise to see the youngsters coming through and maintaining Spain's status of one of the best footballing teams ever. Viva Espana!

This post has been edited by Adryan: Jul 2 2012, 06:40 PM

I'm still not entirely convinced ...

I personally thought he was playing better in the last few weeks of the Premier League for Chelsea .. then he plays like shit in the first Spain game. Then he scores two goals against Ireland, who are a very poor side, then he played like shit again the next game.

Yes, he won the golden boot, he won the Euros, he won the Champions League, he won the FA Cup but he still looks like he has lost that extra thing in him which made him one of the world's most feared strikers. I'm not going to say things like he didn't contribute alot because football is a team sport.

And how many times have we said "TORRES IS BACK!". We said it when he scored agianst West Ham, we said it when he scored against Man United, we said it when he scored the hat trick against QPR, we said it when he scored against Barca, we said it when he scored against Ireland and we said it when he scored and assisted in the final.

I will believe it when I see it but as of now, Torres doesn't look the same player Liverpool signed 5 years ago. He was hungry, he chased every ball, he was unplayable. Now he looks like he has lost that extra yard of pace, it looks like his control and touches have become so bad and it looks like his decision making has dropped.

I only have pity for Llorente (who never got a single minute) and Soldado (great record at Valencia last season and not even selected) who had to watch in despair when Torres put on a crappy performance.

He didn't have a great scoring record for Atletico (30%). He doesn't have a great scoring record for Chelsea (18%) and for Spain (30%) (And Spain is full of quality). So my conclusion is, Rafa Benitez got the best out of him with (57%). Even David Villa has played less games and has a better record but of course they are different players but I'm just saying the Spain squad is not the problem.

It has gone on far too long to be a confidence and form issue. Almost 2 years since the World Cup time.

Well .. but to say he doesn't lose pace is wrong. He has got older from the time he was with us.

If that's the case, then he will never be back to the Torres everyone saw. His pace was his best asset that scared the shit out of players but well however, his pace has nothing to do with his poor touches, control and decision making.

I am hoping to see Suso make a few Liverpool appearances this season.

I've never watched a game but I did see some youtube highlights (yes, I know!) but Suso has great passing abilities and is skilful. He's also got a bit of shooting in him and I think he had a free kick that hit the bar. He's kinda a bit like Alonso in terms of passing but he moves alot more and looks more mobile.

However, does look a bit one footed (although he can pass with his right as well) and when he was played on the right in one of the games, it wasn't his best game. Plays alot better in the centre.