Are Spain ’09 better than Brazil ’94?

EUROPEAN champions Spain are not ranked number one in the world currently for nothing. The winners of Euro08 has set a world record for consecutive victories when they won their 15th game straight in a 2-0 win over South Africa on Saturday.

More importantly, Spain have now gone 35 games without losing, a feat that puts them alongside only Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning side.

While the Dunga-captained side had been criticised for being too boring and defensive, the one-touch, free-flowing football of Spain ’09 has been winning fans and plaudits alike over.

However, while Spain are one win or draw away from breaking Brazil’s record, the Spanish conquistadors have yet to win the World Cup, a quest they will attempt to achieve in South Africa next year.

But can Spain ’09 be considered better than Brazil ’94 if the former breaks Brazil’s record?

Should Foster leave Old Trafford to save England career?

Ben Foster: should he stay at Manchester United, or leave to fight for a place in the England World Cup squad? (Picture: AFP)

ENGLAND and Manchester United goalkeeper faces a dilemma – stay and fight for a regular starting place at Manchester United with Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak, or leave for a guaranteed starting slot in another club, thereby boosting his chances of playing in the World Cup next year.

The 25-year-old will face a difficult decision come the end of this season, where talks to renew his contract with United will start in earnest. Sir Alex Ferguson has already tipped him to become the future United and England No. 1, and with van der Sar in the twilight of his career and Kuszczak yet to impress, Foster could stake his claim at Old Trafford in as little as one season’s time.

But it could be one season too long, since Foster harbours hopes of making it to the World Cup Finals next year. Even though David James is almost certainly the best choice for England right now, the reserve goalkeeper slot is still up for grabs, with the likes of Joe Hart, Scott Carson and Robert Green contesting for the place.

Already, England manager Fabio Capello has broken his own rule and called up Foster, who has not played regularly for United, to the national team for the friendly against Slovakia. It is unlikely, however, that he would take the same risk in South Africa next year.

Stay or go, what’s your say?

Q & A with Letter of the Week winner Sunil Rai

When and why did you start supporting Manchester United?
I remember vividly the 1999 final. The 1st game I watched, not as a United fan, but as a curious sports fanatic, a mere onlooker. I have this tendency to support the so-called underdogs and this was the case in the 1999 final.

I recall my dad going off to sleep with 3 minutes to go but I was there clasping my hands offering every prayer I had, hoping fervently that a miracle materialises. And my God, it did. I don’t remember any moment in my life where I told myself, “OK I’ll support United”. It just happened.

It became an addiction. The charisma. The arrogance. The aura of invincibility. The ethics. The flamboyance. They had it all.

What is the most memorable football game you’ve watched and why?
Countless honestly. But the FA Cup final of 2006, when we lost in such fashion, will remain etched in my memory forever.