Xavi playing for the Catalonia national side which isn't allowed to compete in world football tournaments.
If Spain lift the World Cup for the first time in their history tomorrow against Holland, it will be seen one of two ways around the country. For those that want Spain to remain one nation, it will be seen as a victory for what the country can achieve when it comes together. For those who want to see an independent Catalonia however, the fact that so much of the Spanish team consists of Catalan players mean a Spanish victory will be greeted less than enthusiastically.
Sid Lowe highlights how important the Catalan contribution was to Spain’s semi-final victory over Germany:
Spain’s starting XI last night included one Madrileño (Casillas), one Sevillano (Ramos), one Asturiano (Villa), one Albaceteño (from La Mancha, Iniesta), one Canary Islander (Pedro), one Basque (Alonso) and five Catalans (Piqué, Puyol, Capdevila, Busquets, and Xavi). Meanwhile, there were six Barcelona players (Piqué, Puyol, Pedro, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi). Seven if you include David Villa, who recently signed for them but hasn’t yet played for them.
The winning goal perhaps summed it up – a corner taken by Xavi, scored by Puyol.
As Lowe points out however, there is no sign of disharmony within the team – the players seem to respect and accept each other in a way England players can only dream of. It is only within Spain that the problems start.
So would a Catalan team do well in the World Cup? With the extraordinary talent they have available, you’d have to say yes. You’d certainly put them ahead of nations such as Australia, South Korea and Algeria for example.
Of course, the contribution of Villa and Casillas in particular has been crucial to Spain’s success in this World Cup but if you were to replace either with Catalans such as Bojan and Valdés, they would still be a very hot proposition.
I was in Plaça Catalunya when Spain won Euro 2008 and the lack of Catalan participation in celebrations was obvious. It was mainly foreigners and immigrants from other parts of Spain that partied long into the night giving the whole victory a rather hollow feeling.
So I suspect even a Spanish victory in the World Cup final tomorrow won’t be celebrated across Spain in quite the same way as a Dutch victory would in Holland. It may only add more fuel to those who finally want to see Catalonia compete in sporting events in its own right.
At least if many Catalan’s don’t feel proud of a Spanish victory, they should at least feel proud of the fantastic football their players have played.
Prediction: Spain 3 Holland 0 (and I’d like to see that octopus turned into a paella if not).
That’s Valdés, not Valdez
And yes, Paul would be delicious served with a bit of cayenne pepper and some potato, Gallego style.
Oh aye well spotted ed. Valdez was that tanker that went down.
I presume it’s you who has been sending Paul death threats then.
Weeeellll…. last time we guessed we had too many goals in it.
Let’s say 1:1, 2:1 for Spain after extra time. Dutchies aren’t so bad.
The Telegraph’s tribute to the Barça-Catalan influence on the Spain team:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/spain/7878197/Germany-v-Spain-victory-is-a-homage-to-Catalonia-and-the-worlds-greatest-club-side.html
If 5 catalans players manage to reach a World Cup final, then a Catalonia squad (11Catalan players) may reach the heaven.
But tonight I want Dutch squad to prevail, since Catalonia do not compete…
Go Orange. go!
Forca Barca… and Forca Espana tonight I’m afraid. Kofi Annan just said he hopes Paul the Pulpo is right on BBC coverage, just to let you know. Surprisingly sound comment from the Telegraph there as well.
@Josep, I think a win for Spain would actually further the Catalan cause for their own national team. Better to argue that Catalan players largely helped lift the World Cup than to argue they helped them be runners-up.
@Adam, that is crazy. I thought Kofi Annan was supposed to be one of the world´s great peacekeepers a few years ago. Now he’s effectively inciting Holland to riot.
Torres is on the bench yet again but to his eternal credit, he never looks like he’s ever in a sulk.
Sorry should add something else, those 5 Catalan players Josep… are you sure they are Catalan? If its the ones I’m thinking of then I’d say 3 Catalans.
I’ll take that last one back, didnt realise Capdevila is catalan and didnt think of Busquets, who does frankly. Anyway Josep maybe your right and Nick in reality Kofi is a bastard. He’s just got good PR.
Yeah it was a poor joke from me. As an organization that is almost completely controlled by the USA, the UN that Kofi worked for is probably one of the least peacekeeping organizations in the World.
They should say that over the loud speaker at the final.
Annan “could and should have done more to sound the alarm and rally support” for the pulpo.
I hope that Catalonia gets its own team of precisely 11 players, as Josep has suggested.
Ah, and my bet was really close this time.