If you want to win - be Spanish

In May 2001, Bayern Munich and Valencia met in the Champions League final. After 1-1 in the 90 minutes and extra time, the Bavarians emerged victorious on penalties, winning their fourth UCL trophy. At first glance, that was the final like any other, not unique or more memorable than any other. However, in the last few days, this final draws people's attention again.

Now, you must be wondering why. Well, because that was the last final of a major club or national team competition (Champions League, UEFA Cup, Europa League, EURO, FIFA World Cup), a Spanish side lost. Since then, there have been 23 clashes between Spanish and non-Spanish teams, and the ones from the Iberian Peninsula won each of them! On top of that, as many as four times both finalists were Spanish clubs: Real and Atletico Madrid met twice in the UCL finals, while the other two cases were UEFA Cup (Sevilla-Espanyol) and Europa League (Atletico Madrid-Athletic Bilbao) finals.

You watch Spain's triumph, you don't see him. You watch him, you see the whole thing

In 22 years since the last lost final, Spanish clubs have won 11 Champions League (Real 7 & Barca 4) and 12 UEFA Cup/Europa League trophies (Sevilla 7, Atletico 3, Valencia & Villareal 1 each). What a domination! In the same period, the Spanish national team won four trophies at major tournaments out of 12 in total. The Spaniards were European Champions three times (2008, 2012, 2024) and World Champions once (2010).

Furthermore, there was a specific period when Spanish clubs and the national team were dominant in each particular competition. Namely, from 2014 to 2018, Real and Barca won five consecutive Champions Leagues combined. As for UEL, the 2014-2021 period saw the Spaniards lift six out of eight trophies. La Furia was exceptionally superior between 2008 and 2012, winning all the competitions it participated in. Hence, that generation of the Spanish national team is rightly considered the best in the country's history and one of the most authoritative ever in football.

In the second half of the previous century, the Germans were mainly considered "football rulers." Bayern Munich and West Germany mostly brought their supremacy, and the reputation of "unbeatables" has followed them ever since (just remember Gary Lineker's quote). However, now we can say with the utmost certainty that Spain has become Germany of the 21st century.