Xabi Alonso regards himself as a lucky man to get the chance to play alongside a team full of stars with Spain.
Alonso will line-up with brilliant Barcelona duo Xavi and Andres Iniesta on Sunday when his country look to win the World Cup for the first time against Holland at Soccer City.
The 29-year-old knows he is the one so often overlooked during discussions about the trio, but he is not bothered about that, as he said: "It is a privilege to play among this group of players. There is so much quality."
Years | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
2002 | Brazil | Germany | Turkey |
1998 | France | Brazil | Croatia |
1994 | Brazil | Italy | Sweden |
1990 | Germany | Argentina | Italy |
1986 | Argentina | Germany | France |
1982 | Italy | Germany | Poland |
1978 | Argentina | Holland | Brazil |
1974 | Germany | Holland | Poland |
1970 | Brazil | Italy | Germany |
1966 | England | Germany | Portugal |
1962 | Brazil | Czech | Chile |
1958 | Brazil | Sweden | France |
1954 | Germany | Hungary | Austria |
1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Sweden |
1938 | Italy | Hungary | Brazil |
1934 | Italy | Czech | Germany |
1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | America |