The Two Best International Teams

The whole world seems to agree that the two best teams in the world today are Spain and Brazil.

Yet if we leave aside the hype and their world cup pedigree, is the current Brazilian team even comparable to the Spanish one? Let us investigate on a man to man basis.


Iker Casillas better than Julio Cesar ( although Cesar is in better form )

Joan Capdevila equal to Kleber

Maicon / Dani Alves better than Sergio Ramos / Alvaro Arbeloa

Lucio / Juan / Alex / Luisao just slightly better than Carles Puyol / Raul Albiol / Carlos Marchena / Gerard Pique

Marcos Senna way better than Gilberto Silva

Xabi Alonso much better than Felipe Melo

Kaka better than Xavi ( but Xavi is in better form and has a deputy like Cesc Fabregas. Kaka could later have his deputy in Ronaldinho if the latter comes back into form )

Andres Iniesta light years ahead of Robinho ( can teach him a thing or two about football )

David Silva much better than Elano

Fernando Torres / David Villa vastly superior to Luis Fabiano / Alexandre Pato


Overall Score :-

Spain = 1 + 0.5 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 6.5

Brazil = 0 + 0.5 + 1 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 4.5


At least this analysis demonstrates that Spain is quite superior to Brazil. Compared to Brazilian teams of the past, this Brazil’s strength is its defense and that’s the only area in which it is better than Spain and that too marginally.

Spain just looks such a complete – almost a flawless team. However for a team whose best record in a world cup is a fourth place finish in 1950, I am probably just building too much expectation.

BTW, I am supporting Argentina, Spain and Italy. The problem with Argentina is that the goalkeeper is new, the defense is in shambles, the midfield is somewhat mediocre except for Mascherano, the formation is not yet worked out and only the attackers are top class but even they have not learnt how to play alongside each other. The problem with Italy is that it is largely composed of the world cup winning veterans who just do not have the stamina to excel in one more world cup. So in spite of everything my best bet at the moment is Spain.