What it says on the tin. Preferably based on teams you actually saw during your time as football fan. The Czech Republic side of 2004 is the first one that comes to mind for me. Cech in goal, a superb midfield of Rosicky, Poborsky, Nedved, and Galasek, and Milan Baros in the form of his life. It still bothers me that they lost out to that insipid Greece side at the Euros, they were by far the most impressive side in a mediocre tournament. The Dutch teams of 1998 and 2000 also deserve a mention. Hard to believe the likes of van der Sar, Stam, the de Boer brothers, Davids, Overmars, Bergkamp, Kluivert, Cocu, etc managed to play 2 tournaments (one at home) without even making a final.
Brazil - 1982. The names of Junior, Falcao, Zico , Eder and the legend that was Socrates just roll of the tongue. Had the privilege of watching them at the 1982 World Cup on TV. Was a swagger about them that was bordering on arrogance. Was an injust that this team never won anything. Will forever regard this team as the greatest to never win the biggest prize.
Most of the teams that come to my mind most readily from my time watching football have already been mentioned, but you could soon make a case for the current German side if they don't win the Euros. I think it would be remiss of us not to talk about the wider history of the game, so I'll also mention the Hungarian side of the 1950s. When one considers the historic nature of their achievement in becoming the first foreign side to beat England at Wembley in 1953, particularly in the manner they did it, it seems amazing they didn't win the World Cup the following year.
The Italian team of 1990s is worth a mention, at the time Serie A was the strongest league in the world and players like Baggio, Maldini, Del Piero etc What about club sides? Newcastle in the mid 90s were good but I'm sure there are better examples
Amazed the Hungary team of 1954 haven't had a mention. Between 1948 and 1954, their record read P49 W42 D7 L0. Their first defeat in six years came in the 1954 World Cup Final, under circumstances that could be politely described as controversial. They became the first overseas team ever to beat England at Wembley, trouncing them 6-3. The FA, thinking it was a fluke, offered them a rematch in Budapest. The resulting 7-1 defeat remains England's record loss. They scored 27 goals in six matches at the World Cup, a record in spite of failing to lift the trophy. Their main strikers, Puskas and Kocsis, managed ridiculous scoring records. 84 in 85 for Puskas and 75 in 68 for Kocsis. Other than Hungary, you have to look towards some of those already mentioned. The Netherlands were hugely unfortunate not to win a World Cup in the 1970s with their Total Football, particularly in '78. Brazil's team in '82 was very special indeed and England would have given the Italians and South Americans a run for their money in the three pre-war World Cups if the FA had allowed them to enter.
I agree with you, guys. Czech Republic 2003 - 2004 I think it was best national team in the world those years. Hungary 1950's Won almost all matches, except final.. Netherlands Nearly everytime they have fantastic team, but hardly ever win. Last EURO was another example. And what about Yugoslavia 1990's? WC 1990 - Quarterfinal (lost with Maradona's Argentina on penalties) EC 1991 - Crvena Zveda winners then war....and after that: EURO 1996: Croatia - Quarterfinal, Yugoslavia - banned WC 1998: Croatia - semifinal, Yugoslavia - round of 16 (lost with Netherlands by added time goal) Who knows what would happen in 1992 and 1994, because Yugoslavia was very strong before war and former Yugoslavia countries were strong also after the war...
The Leeds team of the early 00s should have won at least one major trophy I think. Not the greatest ever but worth a mention.
But for the quality of Spain, I'm certain one of the Germany teams under Klinsmann/Low would have won something since 2006. Quality outfits.
Still time for them but the Argentina team at the last World Cup, arguably had the greatest strikeforce ever seen at a World Cup. Messi, Tevez, Aguero, Higuain and Milito, all of whom were in outrageous form as well.
They were hamstrung by appointing Maradona for the last World Cup, and showed that it takes more than just a good bunch of players to make a great team. They were almost guaranteed failure by having that clown at the helm. He picked one player for the squad because of a dream he'd had ffs! Next year's World Cup should see the meeting of some quality teams. Spain as World and European champs, Germany's brilliant young side will be a year older, Argentina with Messi and all the players you mention above and Brazil, who looked pretty handy in the week, as hosts. Can only be one winner though...
The problem is they didn't have a defense and also a manager who as incredible he was as a player is not a good manager.
It's sometimes incredible to think that the Netherlands have only ever won one international tournament - Euro 88. That awesome 1988 team of Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard and Koeman was amazing but just at look of their players who have never won a major tournament: Cruyff, Boskamp, the De Boer twins, Overmars, Bergkamp, Davids, Van Bommel, Van Persie, Robben, Sneijder, .....I could go on.
Holland in 1974-1978 along with Brazil in 1982 are the most complete national teams never to win a tournament in my opinion. Strangely enough I think the team full of players that grew up watching that Dutch that went on to win the Euros in '88 was less than the sum of its parts despite winning the tournament. Having Rijkaard, Gullit, van Basten and Koeman in the same team almost seems like cheating.
Hate to say England were worthy of winning anything, but they looked really good under SGE. As for other tournaments, it's any Holland team; feel sorry for them how well they've done then bottled it time and time again.
