Sergio Ramos and Spain lifted the World Cup four years ago, but won't be around to sniff¹ it this time.

四年前，拉莫斯高举大力神杯庆祝胜利，然而本届世界杯，西班牙人只能远远地看着。

With Spain's remarkable² run of success over (at least for this generation), the question can be asked: Was Spain the best international dynasty ever?

据ESPN网站6月19日报道，在创造一系列不败神话之后，西班牙王朝突然变得黯淡无光（至少对目前这批球员来说），人们不禁要问：斗牛士是否是国际足坛历史上的绝对王者？

BRAZIL 1958-1970: Led by the peerless Pele,Brazil unveiled its jogo bonito (beautiful game) to the world by winning three World Cup titles between 1958 and 1970. The 1970 team was largely different from the previous winners, but Pele linked the champions, andBrazilremains the only country ever to win three out of four World Cups.

巴西王朝（1958-1970）：有出类拔萃的贝利打头阵，巴西队在1958年至1970年期间三夺世界杯，向全世界展示了桑巴足球的魅力。到了1970年，巴西队与之前的冠军队相比有了很大不同，好在有贝利，巴西卫冕成功，成为唯一一支在连续四届世界杯中问鼎三次的球队。

WEST GERMANY 1972-1974: After losing the 1966 World Cup final to England in extra time,West Germany became the first European team to reach three straight major finals. Franz Beckenbauer, nicknamed Der Kaiser, captained a formidable German side that won the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup, then reached the 1976 Euros final before falling on penalty kicks to Czechoslovakia.

西德王朝（1972-1974）：1966年世界杯决赛，在加时赛中输给东道主英格兰队之后，西德队成为连续三次闯入世界杯决赛的首支欧洲劲旅。“足球皇帝”贝肯鲍尔率领的球队来势汹汹，最终捧得1972年的欧洲杯和1974年的世界杯，并在1976年闯入欧锦赛决赛。不过，这场比赛最终以捷克斯洛伐克点球获胜而告终。

BRAZIL 1994-2002: This ruthless version reached the finals of six major tournaments: three World Cups and three Copa Americas. With two generations of attacking stars ranging from Romario and Rivaldo to Ronaldo and Ronaldinho,Brazil won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups, plus South America's championship in 1997 and 1999, in a stretch marred³ only by a surprise loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final.

巴西王朝（1994-2002）：此时的巴西人斗志顽强，毫不服输，在六次重大国际比赛中都闯入了决赛，包括三次世界杯和三次美洲杯。从罗马里奥、里瓦尔多，再到罗纳尔多和小罗，坐拥两代攻击型球星的巴西队豪取1994年和2002年世界杯，并夺得1997年和1999年的美洲杯。这期间唯一的遗憾是，在1998年世界杯决赛中，巴西人意外输给了东道主法国队。

FRANCE 1998-2000: Exploding onto the international scene by upsetting Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final, Les Bleus followed that up by becoming the first reigning⁴ World Cup champion to win the European Championship. A jaw-dropping blend of skill and power, Zinedine Zidane was the face of the team, scoring twice in the 1998 World Cup final. Though France's run was cut short by a shocking group-stage exit at the 2002 World Cup (where Zidane was injured), this golden generation achieved a place of prominence⁵ and excellence⁶ that few have reached.

法国王朝（1998-2000）：在1998年世界杯决赛中，法国人完败巴西军团，傲立国际足坛。2000年，高卢雄鸡成为首支继世界杯后接连捧起欧锦赛冠军的球队。集技巧和力量于一身的齐达内表现神勇，在法国世界杯决赛中攻入两球，成为该队名片。虽然他在2002年世界杯受伤，球队在小组赛就惨遭淘汰，令人扼腕，但黄金一代的杰出表现依然可圈可点，几乎无人能超越。

SPAIN 2008-2012: By winning Euro 2012,Spain became the first team to win three straight world and continental⁷ championships and the first to win consecutive⁸ Euro titles.Spainrevolutionized the concept of possession in soccer with its tiki-taka metronomic passing style, movement off the ball and lethal⁹ finishing to zap opponents' bodies and minds. While the original generation may be past its prime, plenty of talent looms¹⁰ to carry the torch, as Spain has won the past two under-21 European Championships.

西班牙王朝（2008-2012）：2012年，斗牛士成为第一支三次问鼎欧洲杯的球队，也是首支卫冕该头衔的强队。凭借快速短传、富有节奏的推进打法和接应跑位，西班牙革命性地颠覆了足球理念，给对手的身体和心理造成致命冲击。尽管开辟王朝的老将们或许已过黄金期，但有大批新秀继续王朝伟业。在上两届U21欧洲杯的比赛中，年轻的斗牛士们两次夺冠就是证明。

Honorable Mention: The Netherlands team that finished as World Cup runner-up in both 1974 and 1978. Led by Johan Cruyff, the stylish¹¹ Dutch reinvented the game with their Total Football, which defied traditional positions with its free-flowing nature. This side didn't win a major title, but it laid the groundwork for the Euro 1988 winners and is the spiritual predecessor¹² ofSpain's tiki-taka dominance.

荣誉奖——荷兰队：在1974年和1978年世界杯中，荷兰队都屈居亚军。在一代名宿克鲁伊夫的率领下，擅长风格型打法的橙衣军团没有采用传统技战术，凭借全攻全守的自由式打法，使足球运动面貌一新。这支球队虽然没能夺得世界杯冠军，但为1988年赢得欧洲杯奠定基础。如今，西班牙的快速短传打法统治足坛，而这一打法就脱胎于荷兰队的全攻全守。