Spain: More than a team.

Spain are an all-beating, record breaking, possession controlling team.  I say 'team' but in my view they are more than this.  Nearly every part of their game is perfect, from walking the ball out of their own 18 yard box to pinpoint accuracy of their assists.  And the best bit is the part right in the middle of that description.....

Unlike other times, statistics actually do tell the full story about this team.  They show the huge gaps in possession, the wicked amount passes, the least goals scored.  And this was only Euro 2012:

• Over a 1000 more completed passes than the next team (3915 compared to Italy's 2913)
• 25 more minutes of possession (59%, 201 mins compared to Germany's 56%, 176 mins)
• Only one goal conceded in over 570 minutes of football (All others conceded 3 or more)

You have to realise that the squad has not had a huge turn over of players either since Euro 2008.  Thirteen players that were in the full squad of in '08 squad represented their country again in the team of 2012.  Seven of which were in the starting eleven.

The talent just oozes through the team.  The goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, has been the true national to his team which sees him hold 137 caps at the tender age of 31.  This would be a feat in any team but to do this with the competition of Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina for the gloves is even more impressive.  Two goalkeepers that could walk in to any other international squad.

When considering the attacking flair of the Spanish philosophy, the back four are often a forgotten treasure.  Pique, Puyol and Ramos all face each other regularly in the Classico's with fierce loyalty to their club teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.  But when wearing red, they become an intimidating pairing which has seen the team only concede seven competitive goals since October 2010.  Combine this with the attacking prowess of Arbeloa and Alba and that's impressive.

The Spanish core has been criticised and praised often during Euro 2012 but has been as impressive as the 4-0 win over Italy as it has been since the 4-1 against Russia at the start of their Euro 2008 campaign.  Del Bosque's decision to play with a six man midfield without a designated striker conjured many concerned faces when 50 million pounds of Torres sits and watches from the bench.

But when you have the talents of Xavi, Alonso, Busquets, Fabregas, Silva and Iniesta on the team, you would be a fool not to play them surely?  I could sit and write a page for each of these players on their ability and what they bring to this team but, like I said it is more than a team and Torres will always be a part of it, whether he starts or not.

Torres who so often started from the bench in the latest of title wins for Spain, came of the back of a vein of form to win the Golden Boot.  Maybe this would of been different had Villa been fit; but would it matter if they still won?

There is one statistic that I do love though about this team which shows how they are so connected.  But it is not their 35 match unbeaten run between 2007 and 2009, it is not their broken 40 month stint as the number one team in the world.  It is this:

• Only 3 out of the 23 man squad for Euro 2012 play outside of La Liga;
• Then 13 of that 20 play for either Barcelona or Real Madrid:
• And finally out of those 13....10 are in the starting 11.

Its beautiful football, its a beautiful team, its a beautiful record.  Brazil 2014....Can they really do it again?