Catalonia national football team
| |||
Association | Catalan Football Federation (Federació Catalana de Futbol) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Confederation | None | ||
Captain | Sergio García | ||
Most caps | Sergio González (15) | ||
Top scorer | Sergio García (9) | ||
Home stadium | Camp Nou | ||
| |||
First international | |||
(Paris, France; 21 February 1912) | |||
Biggest win | |||
(Barcelona, Spain; 22 December 2000) (Barcelona, Spain; 22 December 1998) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
(Barcelona, Spain; 13 March 1924) (Paris, France; 21 February 1912) |
The Catalonia national football team (Catalan: Selecció de futbol de Catalunya) is the official football team of the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain. It is organised by the Catalan Football Federation. The team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI.
Catalonia is not affiliated with either FIFA or UEFA and is therefore not allowed to participate in either the FIFA World Cup or the European Championship. Other than in certain cases where other nationalities are involved, Catalan players are full Spanish citizens who are eligible to play for Spain.
Since 1904, the team has played nearly 200 games against various national, regional and club teams.[1] International friendly games have been played more regularly since 1997. Among the teams they have played are Nigeria, Brazil and Argentina. Recent friendly games include a 4–2 win over Argentina at Camp Nou in December 2009,[2] and a 4–0 win over Honduras in December 2010.
History
First games
The Catalonia team made their debut in 1905. Initially they played against various club teams such as Club Espanyol, Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Irún Sporting Club. On 2 February 1912, they made their international friendly debut against France, losing 7–0 in Paris. The team was: Reñé, Irízar, Amecharruza, Alemany, Peris, Armet, Forns, Rodríguez, Comamala, Morales and Ramiro. On 1 December 1912, the two teams met again in Barcelona and this time the Catalans won 1–0. In 1914, the Catalan XI played the Basque Country XI for the first time, but there is no record of the result.[3] The first recorded game between the two teams took place on 3 January 1915 at San Mamés Stadium; the Catalan XI lost 6–1.[4]
Copa Príncep d'Astúries
Between 1915 and 1926, the Catalan XI competed in an inter-regional competition. They finished as runners-up in 1915 and won the Copa Príncep d'Astúries for the first time in 1916, beating a Castile XI 8–5 over two games. They then retained the trophy in 1917 after beating the Castile XI 2–0. During the 1920s, a team featuring Josep Samitier, Paulino Alcántara, Sagibarba and Ricardo Zamora helped the Catalan XI win the competition in 1922, 1924 and 1926. The last competition in 1926 was a play-off between the two teams who had won the competition the most. The Catalans beat an Asturias XI 6–3 over two games.
As well as playing other regional teams from throughout Spain and Europe, the 1920s also saw the Catalan XI play several international friendly matches. On 13 March 1924, at the Camp de Les Corts, the Catalan XI played Spain for the first time. The Spain XI included Josep Samitier and Ricardo Zamora, two of the best Catalan players of the era, while the Catalan XI featured Paulino Alcántara and Sagibarba. Samiter scored twice as the Spain XI won 7–0. On 13 December 1925, Samitier, Zamora, Alcántara and Sagibarba were on the same side as the Catalan XI beat Czechoslovakia at the Estadi de Sarrià. After conceding a penalty and going down 1–0, Sagibarba then equalised with another penalty before Samitier clinched a 2–1 win. On 7 July 1926, the Catalan XI played Czechoslovakia in Prague. Despite Samitier putting the Catalans 1–0 ahead, they eventually lost 2–1.
Catalonia vs. Brazil
During the 1930s, Catalonia continued playing friendly games against an array of teams; 1934 was a particularly good year. On 2 February, they played Spain and lost 2–0 at Les Corts. Four months later, they played Brazil twice. On 17 June, the Catalan XI beat Brazil 2–1 at Les Corts and then on 24 June, they held them to a 2–2 draw at the Vista Alegre in Girona. The Brazil team had been in Europe to play in the official 1934 FIFA World Cup and included the legendary Leônidas in their team. The Catalan XI completed a good month when on June 29 they beat the reigning official La Liga champions, Athletic Bilbao, 5–1.
The Franco era
After the Spanish Civil War, caudillo Francisco Franco imposed several restrictions on Catalonia, abolishing the Generalitat de Catalunya and banning the official use of the Catalan language and the Catalan flag. Despite these restrictions, the Catalan XI continued to play regularly during this period and even played Spain twice. On 19 October 1947, at the Sarrià and with a team featuring Juan Velasco, Marià Gonzalvo, Joan Segarra and César, they beat Spain 3–1. On 9 August 1953, Spain avenged this defeat with a 6–0 win.
During this era, several notable Barcelona players, including the Spanish players László Kubala, Luis Suárez, Evaristo and later Jesús María Pereda, played for the Catalan XI. On 26 January 1955, in a friendly game against Bologna at Les Corts, Kubala was also joined by another guest player, Alfredo Di Stéfano. The Catalan XI won 6–2 with two goals from Kubala and one from Di Stéfano. On 1 September 1956, Di Stéfano returned to Les Corts with Real Madrid, recent winners of the first official European Cup, and played a Selecció de Barcelona. Real won the game 7–3.
The Catalan XI marked the end of the Franco era with a friendly game against the Soviet Union at the Camp Nou on 6 June 1976. The team included Carles Rexach and guest Netherlands players Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens. The game finished 1–1 with Neeskens scoring for the Catalan XI. Cruyff's son, Jordi, would subsequently play regularly for the Catalan XI.
Democratic era
Since the restoration of democracy in the 1970s, the Catalonia representative team has regularly played international friendly matches. They put together a string of successful results against countries like Bulgaria, Nigeria, Yugoslavia, Lithuania and Chile. On 5 May 2002, Catalonia hosted Brazil in a warm up friendly game before the official 2002 World Cup. Brazil, who went on to win the official competition, beat Catalonia 3–1. In 2004, Brazil returned for a second friendly game and this time won 5–2 at the Camp Nou, where some months later Argentina defeated Catalonia 3–0. The last friendly matches have been against Paraguay, Costa Rica, Basque Country, Argentina and Colombia.
Johan Cruyff era
On 2 November 2009, it was announced that Dutch legend and former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff would be the new coach of Catalonia.[5][5] On 22 December 2009, they played a friendly against Argentina, which ended in a Catalonia win, 4–2 at Camp Nou. On 28 December 2010, Catalonia played another friendly against Honduras winning 4–0 at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.[6] On 30 December 2011, Catalonia played Tunisia in a goalless draw at the Lluís Companys.[7] In their last game under Cruyff, on 2 January 2013, Catalonia drew with Nigeria at the Cornellà-El Prat, 1–1.[8]
Post-Cruyff era
Former player Gerard was appointed new coach for the Catalan team for two years. His first match with the team took place on 30 December 2013 against Cape Verde at the Olímpic Lluís Companys.[9]
Match history
10 February 1912 | France |
7–0 | Paris | |
Stadium: Stade Olympique de Colombes |
1 December 1912 | Catalonia |
1–0 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de la Indústria |
3 January 1915 | Basque Country |
6–1 | Bilbao | |
Stadium: San Mamés |
7 February 1915 | Catalonia |
2–2 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de la Indústria |
13 May 1915 | Catalonia |
0–1 | Madrid | |
Stadium: Athletic |
21 May 1916 | Catalonia |
1–3 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de la Indústria |
22 May 1916 | Catalonia |
0–0 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de la Indústria |
4 June 1916 | Basque Country |
5–0 | Bilbao | |
Stadium: San Mamés |
3 April 1921 | Catalonia |
4–0 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de la Indústria |
4 April 1921 | Catalonia |
1–0 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de la Indústria |
13 March 1924 | Catalonia |
0–7 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de Les Corts |
15 June 1924 | Catalonia |
1–2 | Barcelona | |
[10] | Stadium: Real Sociedad Hípica |
13 December 1925 | Catalonia |
2–1 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Estadi de Sarrià |
7 July 1926 | Czechoslovakia |
2–1 | Prague | |
Stadium: Letná Stadium |
8 June 1930 | Catalonia |
0–1 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc |
1 January 1931 | Basque Country |
3–2 | Bilbao | |
Stadium: San Mamés |
2 February 1934 | Catalonia |
0–2 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de Les Corts |
17 June 1934 | Catalonia |
2–1 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp de Les Corts |
19 October 1947 | Catalonia |
3–1 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Estadi de Sarrià |
8 April 1950 | Catalonia |
1–1 | Universidad Católica | Barcelona |
Artigas | Infante | Stadium: Camp de Les Corts |
21 February 1971 | Basque Country |
1–2 | Bilbao | |
Stadium: San Mamés |
6 June 1976 | Catalonia |
1–1 | Barcelona | |
Stadium: Camp Nou |
24 April 1993 | Catalonia |
4–4 | The Best Foreign footballers in La Liga | Barcelona |
[11] | Stadium: Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc |
23 December 1997 | Catalonia |
1–1 | Barcelona | |
20:45 CET | Dani García |
Report | Stadium: Olímpic Attendance: 35,300 Referee: |
22 December 1998 | Catalonia |
5–0 | Barcelona | |
20:30 CET | Óscar Celades Tamudo Barbarà |
Report | Stadium: Olímpic Attendance: 53,630 Referee: |
23 December 1999 | Catalonia |
1–0 | Barcelona | |
20:30 CET | Óscar |
Report | Stadium: Olímpic Attendance: 43,700 Referee: |
22 December 2000 | Catalonia |
5–0 | Barcelona | |
21:15 CET | Óscar Jordi Gerard Xavi |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 47,000 Referee: |
28 December 2001 | Catalonia |
1–0 | Barcelona | |
21:00 CET | Luis García |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 60,000 Referee: |
18 May 2002 | Catalonia |
1–3 | Barcelona | |
21:00 CET | Luis García |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 96,700 Referee: |
28 December 2002 | Catalonia |
2–0 | Barcelona | |
21:15 CET | Roger Luque |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 63,416 Referee: |
28 December 2003 | Catalonia |
4–2 | Barcelona | |
18:30 CET | Sergio García Xavi Luis García |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 67,100 Referee: |
25 May 2004 | Catalonia |
2–5 | Barcelona | |
21:05 CET | Gerard Sergio García |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 83,357 Referee: |
29 December 2004 | Catalonia |
0–3 | Barcelona | |
21:30 CET | Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 65,320 Referee: |
28 December 2005 | Catalonia |
1–1 | Barcelona | |
21:30 CET | Soriano |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 33,000 Referee: |
24 May 2006 | Catalonia |
2–0 | Terrassa | |
21:30 CET | Piti Roger |
Report | Stadium: Olímpic Attendance: 8,155 Referee: |
8 October 2006 | Catalonia |
2–2 | Barcelona | |
18:30 CET | Verdú Luque |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 56,353 Referee: |
29 December 2007 | Basque Country |
1–1 | Bilbao | |
20:30 CET | Aduriz |
Report | Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 Referee: |
24 May 2008 | Catalonia |
0–1 | Barcelona | |
19:00 CET | Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 42,380 Referee: |
28 December 2008 | Catalonia |
2–1 | Barcelona | |
19:00 CET | Krkić Verdú |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 30,000 Referee: |
22 December 2009 | Catalonia |
4–2 | Barcelona | |
20:30 CET | Sergio García Krkić Sergio Hurtado |
Report | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 53,000 Referee: |
28 December 2010 | Catalonia |
4–0 | Barcelona | |
19:00 CET | Corominas Sergio García Krkić |
Report | Stadium: Lluís Companys Attendance: 28,150 Referee: |
30 December 2011 | Catalonia |
0–0 | Barcelona | |
19:00 CET | Report | Stadium: Lluís Companys Attendance: 36,545 Referee: |
2 January 2013 | Catalonia |
1–1 | Cornellà de Llobregat | |
19:00 CET | Sergio |
Report | Stadium: Cornellà-El Prat Attendance: 27,234 Referee: |
30 December 2013 | Catalonia |
4–1 | Barcelona | |
19:00 CET | Sergio García Krkić Riera |
Report | Stadium: Lluís Companys Attendance: 20,700 Referee: |
28 December 2014 | Basque Country |
1–1 | Bilbao | |
20:30 CET | Aduriz |
Report | S. García |
Stadium: San Mamés Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Bikandi Garrido |
Current squad
The following players were called up for the match against Tunisia on 28 December 2016.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Jordi Masip | 3 January 1989 | 3 | 0 | |
13 | GK | Èdgar Badia | 12 February 1992 | 1 | 0 | |
2 | DF | Víctor Álvarez | 14 March 1993 | 4 | 0 | |
3 | DF | Andreu Fontàs | 14 November 1989 | 4 | 0 | |
4 | DF | Alberto de la Bella | 2 December 1985 | 4 | 0 | |
5 | DF | Sergi Gómez | 28 March 1992 | 2 | 0 | |
6 | DF | Pol Lirola | 13 August 1997 | 1 | 0 | |
13 | DF | Gerard Valentín | 28 July 1993 | 1 | 0 | |
14 | DF | Aarón Martín | 22 April 1997 | 1 | 0 | |
7 | MF | Xavi Hernández | 25 January 1980 | 12 | 2 | |
8 | MF | Joan Verdú | 5 May 1983 | 11 | 3 | |
9 | MF | Sergi Roberto | 7 February 1992 | 6 | 0 | |
10 | MF | Marc Crosas | 9 January 1988 | 3 | 0 | unattached |
11 | MF | Víctor Rodríguez | 23 July 1989 | 2 | 0 | |
12 | MF | Sergi Samper | 20 January 1995 | 2 | 0 | |
13 | MF | Marc Roca | 26 November 1996 | 1 | 0 | |
14 | MF | Pere Pons | 20 February 1993 | 1 | 0 | |
15 | FW | Sergio García | 9 June 1983 | 14 | 9 | |
16 | FW | Álvaro Vázquez | 27 April 1991 | 6 | 0 | |
17 | FW | Gerard Moreno | 7 April 1992 | 3 | 1 | |
18 | FW | Oriol Riera | 3 July 1986 | 2 | 1 |
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team in the last two years.
Notable players
List of Catalan players who also represented FIFA international teams in International and Olympic matches
- Players in bold have won the FIFA World Cup
- Players in underlined have won a continental championships
- Players in italics have won the gold medal at the Olympic Games
- Jordi Alba
- Paulino Alcantara
- Ramón Alfonseda
- Fernando Argila
- José Artigas
- Sergi Barjuán
- Marc Bartra
- Estanislau Basora
- Thiago
- Héctor Bellerín
- Gustavo Biosca
- Andrés Bosch
- Crisant Bosch
- Francisco Bru
- Sergio Busquets
- Ramón Calderé
- Francisco Calvet
- José Canito
- Joan Capdevila
- Kiko Casilla
- José Castillo
- Albert Celades
- Luis Cembranos
- Thomas Christiansen
- Paco Clos
- Josep Curta
- Gerard Deulofeu
- Ernesto Domínguez
- Vicente Engonga
- Josep Escolà
- Juan José Estella
- Cesc Fàbregas
- Albert Ferrer
- Jordi Ferrón
- Paco Fortes
- José María Fusté
- Daniel García
- Gabri García
- Luis García
- Óscar García
- Salva García
- Sergio García
- Delfí Geli
- Enric Gensana
- Sergio González
- José Gonzalvo
- Marià Gonzalvo
- Sigfrido Gracia
- Pep Guardiola
- Xavi Hernández
- Andrés Iniesta
- Toni Jiménez
- José Juncosa
- Bojan Krkić
- Jordi Lardín
- Gerard López
- Albert Luque
- Eduardo Manchón
- "Xisco" Marcet
- Cristóbal Martí
- Miguel Mir
- José Antonio Martín Domínguez
- Eugenio Montesinos
- Martín Montoya
- Carlos Muñoz
- Fernando Navarro
- Joaquín Navarro
- José Obiols
- Fernando Olivella
- Antonio Olmo
- Fernando Ortuño
- José Parra
- Esteban Pedrol
- Marcelino Pérez
- Vicente Piera
- Antonio Pinilla
- Gerard Piqué
- "Pitus" Prat
- Luis Pujol
- Carles Puyol
- José Raich
- Antoni Ramallets
- Pepe Reina
- Carles Rexach
- José Luis Riera
- Joaquim Rifé
- Sergi Roberto
- Juan Carlos Rojo
- Oriol Romeu
- Francisco Rodríguez García
- Isidro Rovira
- Sagibarba
- Salvador Sadurní
- Sagibarba
- Isidro Sala
- Josep Samitier
- "Tente" Sánchez
- Juan Sans
- José Sastre
- Joan Segarra
- José Seguer
- Eladio Silvestre
- Pedro Solé
- Miquel Soler
- Daniel Solsona
- Jonathan Soriano
- Raúl Tamudo
- Justo Tejada
- Cristian Tello
- Antonio Torres
- Curro Torres
- José Vicente Train
- José Trías
- Víctor Valdés
- Toni Velamazán
- Juan Velasco
- Martí Ventolrà
- Martín Vergés
- Juan Vizcaíno
- Ramón Zabalo
- Ricardo Zamora
Guest players
Because Catalonia is not a member of either UEFA or FIFA due to it being a region of Spain, obvious eligibility rules based on birthplace do not apply. As a result of unofficial friendly team, a number of players who were not born in Catalonia have guested for the Catalan XI. With the notable exception of Alfredo Di Stéfano, most were playing for Barcelona at the time. Notice that some players, as Andrés Iniesta, Jordi Cruyff or Lionel Messi had lived most of their lives (and childhood) in Catalonia. Some others, as Sagibarba or Paulino Alcántara had Catalan ancestors (for example: Alcántara was the son of a Catalan military officer in the Spanish Philippines and moved to Barcelona after the Spanish–American War as a child).
Selected coaches
Pichi Alonso, 1995–2005 Pere Gratacós, 2005–2009 Johan Cruyff, 2009–2013 Gerard López, 2013–2016 Sergio González, 2016–2017
Honours
- Copa Príncep d'Astúries
- Winners (5): (1916, 1917, 1921, 1924, 1926)
- Runners-Up (1): (1915)
Estimated Elo
The Elo rating system was adapted for football by adding a weighting for the kind of match, an adjustment for the home team advantage, and an adjustment for goal difference in the match result. Its estimated Elo is 1856 (current fantasy rank: 16th). Its highest Elo were 1885 points (after winning against Honduras on December 28, 2010). At that time it would have been the seventh world national football team in the World behind Spain, Germany, Argentina and England and above Portugal, Italy, France and among those.
See also
Notes
- ↑ esportcatala.com Archived September 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "4–2: Catalunya suma un triunfo de prestigio frente a Argentina" (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 22 December 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
- ↑ fcbarcelona.com Archived November 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Vasconia-Cataluña" (PDF). Mundo Deportivo, 4/1/1915. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
- 1 2 "Cruyff will coach Catalonia team". BBC News. 2 November 2009.
- ↑ "Catalonia defeats Honduras". La Prensa.hn (Honduran national newspaper). 29/12/2010.
- ↑ "Catalonia draws with Tunisia". El Periódico de Catalunya (Catalionian newspaper) 31/12/2011.
- ↑ "Catalunya empata con Nigeria en la despedida de Cruyff". ElPeriodico.com. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ↑ "Catalunya jugará contra Cabo Verde el 30 de diciembre". Lavanguardia.com. 15 November 2013.
- ↑ "De Futbol". El Telegrama del Rif, 17 June 1924, page 3. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ↑ Report: Homage to Kubala (1993)