Tuesday, 21st June, 2011
Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes that the influence of Barcelona in the development of the current great Spain side has been overrated.
Spain entered their golden period in 2008 by winning the European Championship and then followed this up by taking home the World Cup last summer. And again the Spanish remain favourites to win Euro 2012 next year.
But Casillas has grown tired of talk that it is the all-conquering Barcelona side that have inspired and moulded the Spainish national team. Indeed, Casillas believes that talk of that is unfair.
"Anyone who follows Spanish football closely knows that the way we play was coming", said the Real Madrid goalkeeper.
"Our game was not for the last two seasons, but 2007 and 2008, when Barcelona did not dominate Spanish football, Real Madrid did.
"If we look further back you can see that in the final of Euro 2008 just three players from Barcelona were in the side. That Spain is associated with the game at Barcelona is nice, the club called the shots in recent years.
"But for Spain it’s not just the players of Barcelona."
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