than a four-year cycle.”

Having been the perennial underachievers for what felt like an eternity, Spain’s golden generation ended a 44-year drought by winning a major tournament at Euro 2008 before going on to claim an unprecedented three on the bounce.

The 2014 World Cup may be a write-off but Spain’s status as a footballing heavyweight remains — they are still European champions at senior and U21 level while La Liga clubs currently hold both the Champions League and Europa League.

That said, it does seem like the end for many in this group. After Carles Puyol’s recent retirement, others like Xavi and Casillas could follow suit by packing in international football while Del Bosque future is unclears as he insisted last night that he will take time out to reflectBorn in 1937 in Port Talbot, South Wales, Philip Anthony Hopkins was the only child of Dick (a baker by trade) and Muriel Hopkins. His family was peopled with domineering and intimidating stock his grandfather, also a baker, inspired fear in his young grandson, on account of his massive, imposing build and stern, fiery temperament and he grew up a taciturn child in the peculiar atmosphere of wry, dark humor and bleakness that was Wales during the second World War.

Tony, as he prefers to be called, weathered a discomforting childhood, especially during his years at the Cowbridge Grammar School. "I was lousy in school," he says. "Real screwed-up. A moron. I was antisocial and didn't bother with the other kids. A really bad student. I didn't have any