They were as good as any other....myth!

[Giannis K. Hoplite]

And one should at last read and remember what the ancients and the Spartans themselves thought about their men, and what this agoge (for which we know so,but so little in reality) was all about and what men it produced. And it produced specialized men in something. Now if you want to call them as the ancient equivalent of any modern team,call them so,but know that you are without base.
Poor Spartans,there has been written about them by modern historians and peaple more than what any ancient historian ever wrote or even indicated. It is a pity because it seems indeed that thr Spartans were some spectacular peaple with a spectacular state, but they simply weren't spectacular in the way that most modern peaple would perceive it.
Such discussions always make me think of filmaker of historical movies where if you ask them why the costumes are like that and why the soldiers fight like that,they will reply "but because it looks so much more fancy than the reality" and they never think that reality may had actually been greater,but less fancy.
So yes,the spartans had an educational system that lasted many years,and yes,they were focusing on war,but how exactly we don't know,and because one spartan general is said after centuries to have indicated that his foes were cowards it doesn't say anything.
Khairete
Giannis