Spain's Greatest FIFA World Cup XI

Having won back-to-back Euros in 2008 and 2012 apart from the FIFA World Cup in 2010, it is no secret that Spain are arguably the most dominant force in world football today. However in the earlier years, the Spaniards have been through their fair share of nightmares in the international arena. Despite the brimming talent produced by La Rojas over the years, they were constantly denied to have the World Cup within reach.

Under the guidance of Vicente Del Bosque, the Spaniards reached their first final in 19 World Cups and eventually ended their prolonged drought. Although it has taken the Spaniards nearly 80 years to taste World Cup glory, they have produced innumerable World Cup heroes of eternal remembrance.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas

Iker Casillas celebrates after winning the Euro 2012

With 153 caps for Spain, Iker Casillas holds the record for the most capped player of the national side. The Spanish captain has been the first-choice keeper for over a decade now and arguably the most significant member of the World Cup winning side in 2010. San Iker’s excellent performance in the World Cup, keeping a clean sheet in all games of the knockout stages was integral to their triumph. Amidst fierce contenders like Andoni Zubizaretta and Ricardo Zamora, the Madridista is regarded as the best goalkeeper in the history of Spanish football and gets the nod to start for the greatest Spanish eleven at the FIFA World Cup.

Defenders: Sergio Ramos – Carles Puyol – Fernando Hierro – Jose Camacho

Akin to Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos started his career as an attacking right back before transforming into a centre back owing to his defensive diligence. Ramos is considered to be one of the best centre backs in the world today and possesses every quality from strength to aerial abilities, to be the complete defender of modern day football. The Real Madrid man was an integral part of Spain during the back-to-back Euro and World Cup 2010 success. Ramos’ partnership with Carles Puyol worked wonders for La Rojas, drying up the goals conceded in the 2010 World Cup. With 115 caps for Spain, Ramos is currently the most experienced defender in the Spanish squad and would start as right back in this privileged eleven.

Carles Puyol fondly known as the El Capitan and is easily one of the best defenders in the history of Spanish football. In his earlier days as a right back, Puyol was a combination of pace, strength and agility. But owing to his defensive prowess, he moved into the heart of defence. With exactly 100 caps to his tally, Puyol represented his nation in 3 World Cups and 2 Euros, showcasing a defensive exhibition on innumerable occasions. The former Barcelona captain scored the decisive header against the Germans to take the Spaniards into the final of the World Cup and yet again, put up a match-winning performance in the final to win La Rojas their maiden World Cup.

The former captain of Real Madrid and Spain, Fernando Hierro is among the best sweepers the game has ever witnessed. Hierro was generally deployed at the heart of defence and occasionally as a defensive midfielder owing to his tremendous tackling, passing-range and goal-scoring ability. He even held the record as Spain’s top scorer with 29 goals before he was surpassed by Raul Gonzalez; such was his eye-for-goal. One of Hierro’s most important goals was against Denmark in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification as it gave La Rojas, who were a man down, entry into the 1994 World Cup.

Playing on the left, Camacho was the defensive backbone during his 13-year spell with the Spaniards. He was a rare gem in the Spanish squad which hardly tasted any success in the international arena. With 81 caps for Spain, Camacho represented his country in 2 FIFA World Cups and 2 Euros and bowed out early on all occasions except for the 1984 Euro, when they finished runners-up of the tournament. The Madridista who was the driving force of La Rojas in the early 80’s, starts as left back in the greatest eleven to represent Spain at the FIFA World Cup.

Midfield Diamond: Xabi Alonso – Xavi – Luis Suarez – Andres Iniesta

Xabi Alonso is arguably the best in his position and possesses a unique skill-set. While very few in the world have the ability to orchestrate the game from deep-midfield, Alonso excels in doing it. Despite sitting pretty in front of the back four, Alonso’s contribution to the team’s strike-force is an eminent feature of the Spanish midfielder. He has represented Spain at 2 FIFA World Cups and 2 Euros, winning three out of the four competitions and an essential member of the triumphant La Rojas lineup under Del Bosque. The beard of brilliance features as a defensive midfielder in our eleven.

Nicknamed “The Architect”, Luis Suarez is one of the very few Spanish players who tasted humungous success outside La Liga. Having left Barcelona after a successful 6-year spell, Suarez reached his prime at Inter Milan, where he was deployed as a deep-lying playmaker and believed to be the mastermind of the triumphs of La Grande Inter side in the 1960’s. The creativity and control combining with his defensive diligence made him a player who serveed all departments of the game. Suarez represented Spain in 2 World Cups and was the engine of the Spanish side which won the Euro in 1964. Suarez became the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or when he won it in 1960.

Xavi Hernandez is arguably the best midfielder in the history of Spanish football. He is widely known for his outstanding vision and passing range that he deploys to unlock defences. Since Xavi dictates play from the centre of the park, the Catalan is always under constant pressure. However, his composure and equanimity creates a sharp distinction between any other midfielder and Xavi. With 131 caps for Spain, Xavi is second only to Casillas as the most capped player for La Rojas and undoubtedly the backbone of Spain’s triumphs in the international arena.

Xavi and Iniesta - One of the best midfield duos in the world

Known as the brain of Barcelona and Spain, Andres Iniesta is arguably the best player ever to have donned the Spanish jersey. With 95 caps for Spain, Catalan was the most significant member of La Rojas in their Euro and World Cup success. Don Andres was quoted to be the most complete footballer in the modern era by manager Vicente Del Bosque and to watch him play is a feast for the eyes.

He possesses an excellent passing range, a hawk-like vision and easily one of the best dribblers of his generation. The little magician has the knack of scoring goals of high significance; the goal in the final against the Dutch which handed Spain their maiden World Cup title is a prominent example. The attacking prowess of Spain largely depended on this man during their World Cup triumph, making him a mandatory addition to the greatest eleven to represent Spain at the FIFA World Cup.

Forwards: David Villa – Emilio Butragueno

David Villa made his national team debut back in 2005 and it marked the beginning of a new era in Spanish football. He is a fox-in-the-box owing to his prowess in front of goal and excellent finishing abilities. El Guaje is the record top-scorer for Spain with 56 goals in 94 appearances and apparently doesn’t have any competitors posing a threat to his record as second placed Fernando Torres is 20 goals behind him. Villa solely led the Spanish attack during the Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 triumph, finishing as top scorer on both the occasions with four goals and five goals respectively. Without a shadow of a doubt, Villa is arguably the best Spanish striker in World Cups and has left an indelible impression in the hearts of the Spaniards.

Butragueno was a dominant force in Spanish football and regarded as one of the best players in the world during the late 1980s. Nicknamed ‘the Vulture’, Butragueno played 69 international matches for La Rojas and scored 26 goals. Emilio was widely known for his exquisite positioning and scored a majority of his goals from inside the 18-yard box. He reached his prime in 1986 during his time at Real Madrid for whom he scored 123 goals in over 300 appearances and won several accolades such as the La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup.

The Spaniards were fortunate to have him at his peak during the 1986 FIFA World Cup as he scored four goals in a 5-1 win against Denmark in the Round of 16 to take them through to the quarters. The Madridista was one of the most lethal strikers in Europe and finished in third place in the Ballon d’Or on two consecutive occasions (1986, 1987). The addition of Butrageuno alongside David Villa pretty much sums up the attack as well as this prestigious lineup which comprises eleven of the greatest players to represent Spain at the FIFA World Cup.

Substitutes: Andoni Zubizaretta, Manuel Sanchis, ‘Pirri’ Jose Martinez , Ricardo Gallego, ‘Michel’ Jose Miguel Gonzalez, Telmo Zarra, Raul Gonzalez

Spain’s greatest XI at the FIFA World Cup

You can read the greatest XI of other teams here: FIFA World Cup Greatest XIs

Edited by Staff Editor