Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas insists Spain's playing style was not inspired by the current great Barcelona side.
Many people have attributed the national team's success to the system used at Barça by coach Pep Guardiola, which has seen the Catalan club win a plethora of trophies in the last three seasons, including three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League crowns.
Seven Barcelona players started for Spain in the FIFA World Cup™ final win over Netherlands and all of the goals in South Africa were scored by members of Guardiola's squad - even though striker David Villa had yet to feature for the Catalans, having signed just before the tournament from Valencia.
Casillas, though, says Spain's style dates back to before their UEFA EURO 2008 win, and claims Real were the dominant force back then.
The national team is not just about Barcelona's success; it's about the success of the rest, too.
Iker Casillas, Spain captain
"Anyone who has followed the national team a little will remember where our style of play comes from," he told Chilean newspaper El Mercurio in an interview.
"It doesn't come from 2010 or 2009, but from 2007 and 2008, and at that time Barcelona weren't the club dominating or creating hegemony in Spanish football; it was Real Madrid."
And Casillas remembers that only three Barcelona players featured in the EURO 2008 final against Germany.
"If we start to remember a little bit further back in time, only [Andres] Iniesta, Xavi and [Carles] Puyol were Barcelona players in the final of the European Championships against Germany," he said.
"That Spain is associated with Barcelona's play is a good thing because the team has achieved great success, but the national team is not just about Barcelona's success; it's about the success of the rest, too."