", "Ha prohibido la Federacion Holandesa el match Rotterdam-Seleccion Vasca? With Madrid, Petit reached the 1916 and 1917 Copa del Rey finals, winning the 1917 final with a virtuoso performance against Arenas Club de Getxo, before walking away from the club to join his hometown side Real Unin in Irun. Christian Sarramagna and Flix Lacuesta played their part in AS Saint-tiennes domination of French football in the mid-1970s. The resultant Champions League campaign in 2003-04 saw Deschamps lead Monaco all the way to the final, the sixth of his career. Later in May they travelled again to Cuba,[47] this time playing the Cuba national team twice, before returning to Mexico. Due to the civil war in Spain FIFA had banned all FIFA-affiliated countries and clubs from playing any Spanish teams. Laporte would have a tough decision to make if presented with the choice of playing for the Basque national team, but for this list we will include him. [citation needed]. Aviron Bayonnais FC play their home games at the 3,500-capacity Stade Didier Deschamps. In the first decade of their existence Athletic selected English players for the team, but since 1912 they have adhered to a policy of allowing only players born in the Basque Country or who learned their football skills at a Basque club to play for them. At the heart of this dispute were the meanings of the two terms 'Euskadi' and 'Euskal Herria'. [1][11][12] In March 1903, Bilbao FC could not keep an independent structure and ended up being absorbed by Athletic Club[1][3] and the side that emerged from the unification was called Athletic Club de Bilbao.[4]. In June, they played Czechoslovakia again losing 21. After the team had arrived back in Spain on 5 October 1922, the players resumed playing for either Biscay or Gipuzkoa. Azpilicueta is also capable of getting involved in the attack, making him an important player in any squad. Squad for the friendly against Costa Rica on 16 November 2020. From there Petit was sent to Madrid for further schooling and with regular organised football on the curriculum he was soon spotted by the then FC Madrid, the club that, with royal patronage, would later become Real Madrid. If Alonso was to snub the Basque National Team, Iturraspe could fill in for him, as could Real Madrid teammate Asier Illarramendi, who is already seen as the 32-year-old's eventual replacement. Throughout the years, Basque players have helped the Spanish national team achieve success. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. [2] By 1892 the sheer quantity of Englishmen playing football on La Campa de los Ingleses forced them to seek another pitch that could properly accommodate the growing population of Brits, and so, in November 1892, the president of Club Atleta, Enrique Jones Bird, asked for permission to play in the Hippodrome of Lamiako. This was shortly after General Franco's victory over the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. [67][68] At this match the gold badge of honour of the Basque Football Federation was presented to Joseba Etxeberria, former player of Athletic Club Bilbao, for being the most capped player of the Basque team, and he was allowed to take the kick-off. It wasn't until 2011 that the promising midfielder made the return to the place of his birth, and he has been a driving force at Athletic ever since. The likes of Ruben Pardo and Asier Illarramendi are also immensely talented despite their age and would add a lot to the squad. Lizarazus last act in a Bordeaux shirt was to play in the 1996 Uefa Cup final defeat to Bayern Munich. Couple that with young talents such as Joseba Zaldua and the Basque Country has a lot of options to choose from. In 1922 separate teams were created for Biscay and Cantabria because the former decided to form their own federation (Biscayan Federation).[18][19]. Like the rest of Spain, it is in the midfield that the Basques would boast their biggest talents. He was young enough to still be playing a decade later when La Liga was launched, claiming two further Copa del Rey winners medals during the 1920s. In Vitoria-Gasteiz there is Alavs, who went from fourth-tier football to Uefa Cup finalists in just over a decade in the 1990s. Includes a friendly match against former FR Yugoslavia on 26 December 1997, Record vs non-FIFA teams / As 'North' region, Matches against the 'Central Federation' (. Apart from Balenziaga, Nacho Monreal is another prime candidate to start at left-back for the Basque national team if Azpilicueta stays on the right. The Basque Country amateur team is composed of players from the Tercera Divisin (Group 4) and provincial lower divisions, with eligibility criteria being club (must play for a club in the territory), age (must be between 18 and 35) and amateur status (must never have signed a contract as a professional). Most of Real's players are Gipuzkoa locals from their academy, while Athletic's 100-year-old official signing policy limits themselves to players from the Greater Basque region (either born there, raised there i.e. But that has all changed since the 26-year-old returned to his boyhood Athletic Club Bilbao last summer. Finally, SD Eibar are currently enjoying their first ever season in the highest division and are taking this seasons tally of Basque teams in La Liga to three. The man in France behind the humanitarian effort was the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who had previously . The Basque Country has had a football team of its own since 1930. The name change, driven by the Basque Football Federation, was denounced by politicians from the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV),[62][63] including the Lehendakari, Juan Jos Ibarretxe,[64] and also the main Spanish political parties such as the Partido Popular (PP) and PSOE. The Athletic Club winger would be a great player opposite toGriezmann for the Basques, as both would be able to beat defenders with pace and also provide assistance in defence. The Soviet authorities were determined to win the final game in Moscow, so the Spartak team was improved by bringing players from other parts of the country to play for the team just for that match. In the autumn of 1937 the team crossed the Atlantic to play in Mexico where FIFA had given them permission to play clubs and the national side. Another important club that deserves a mention is Arenas FC (later Arenas de Getxo), founded in 1909 and located in Bizcaia, thus being the main threat for Athletic Club in the 1910s. [59] Prior to this, their last game outside Spain had been in June 1939, in the Spanish Civil War era against Club Atltico Corrales in Mexico City. [70], In December 2012 they played Bolivia in San Sebastin, winning 61. [86] With no December fixture forthcoming, but UEFA Euro 2020 international matches to be played in Bilbao, it was reported that the Basque team may be able to arrange a match against one of the qualified teams who would meet Spain there (Poland or Sweden) as part of their preparations before the tournament. [2][4][1] Among them was Santiago Martnez de las Rivas, the son of Jos Martnez Rivas, the owner of the Nervin Shipyards. Photograph: Michele Limina/EPA, Steven Scragg for These Football Times, part of the Guardian Sport Network. Only played in one unofficial wartime international: See, Only played in two unofficial wartime international matches: See, Includes 1 match not counted by some sources: See. Players who are still active for the national team are players who have not retired from football (although they may have retired from their FIFA international team) and are, subsequently, eligible to be called up. What do Basque Country (greater region), French Basque Country and List of Basque footballers have in common. [2] This group of football pioneers were part of a multi-sports club called Club Atleta, which had been founded in late 1889. Iraizoz is currently having one of the best seasons of his career, earning 10 clean sheets in 33 league appearances, while also boasting a goals-conceded-per-game average of 0.97 percent, via Squawka.com. Their first game was against Catalonia on 8 June 1930, which they won by 01 in Montjuc, and they played Catalonia again on 1 January 1931 in Bilbao, winning that match 32.[7]. A team made up of players from the Basque Country played Real Madrid in the Gal Stadium in Irun, losing 02. In 1980, in Vitoria, they lost 15 to Hungary. [5], This temporary merge became known as Club Bizcaya (with a B), and following an invitation from Madrid FC (now known as Real Madrid), Club Bizcaya was sent to Madrid to represent the city of Bilbao in the 1902 Copa de la Coronacin, with the then Athletic president, Juan Astorquia, being named the team's captain. Though he will not be going to Brazil this summer, he is destined for a long and successful international career. [42] After playing nine matches in the capital[43] and one in Guadalajara they crossed over to Cuba where their problems with FIFA got worse. Though Llorente is easily the top choice to start up top for Euskal Herria, make no mistake about it, he is by no means the only option. [4][5], Listed below are the players who have featured for the Basque Country international team dating from 1990 when regular fixtures against FIFA national teams were arranged. The Basque Country lost 12. Since its inception in 1930, the team went through a series of names, was organised under exile in Latin America with some of the region's leading players of the time during the Civil War, and only played twice under Franco's dictatorship. World Football Xabi Alonso, Fernando Llorente and the Best Basque Players: A Starting XI Michael Cerna March 8, 2012 With Barcelona's massive success in recent years, Catalunya has gotten. Leave your thoughts and comments below. CA Osasuna was the only club with players called up for the match who refused to release them. Anyone else? The 25-year-old is one of the best Basque players in the world and is very experienced, having recently won the Champions League with Bayern Munich and featuring regularly in the Spain national team. The 21-year-old is capable of scoring wonderful goals and will regularly try his luck from distance. DNA from ancient remains seems to have solved the puzzle of one of Europe's most enigmatic people: the Basques. He also had 97 caps for the France national team . The left-footed defender is known for his physicality and ability to handle aerial battles, but he is also a very good passer. With the game becoming increasingly popular, the indigenous game of Basque pelota would soon come under threat, so much so that the Atotxa Stadium in San Sebastin forced nearby pelota courts to be demolished in order to make way for renovations, or more specifically, increase the capacity to 20,000. He is more than capable of keeping possession and also boasts a keen ability to cross the ball. [13] Arana was involved in the creation of the flag, anthem, and ultimately the Basque Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Vasco, PNV). [87] However, the tournament was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though he can score from well outside the box, Muniain does his best work inside the box when he creates his own chances or finishes off missed opportunities. Many great players, however, fail to take the golden touch they had as a player into their coaching career, but Deschamps has continued to achieve. Ren Petit is regarded by many to have been Real Madrids first superstar footballer. With Basque spoken readily, they must be the only tri-lingual football fans in the world, apart from the Dutch. The Athletic defender also has decent pace and vision, but his passing is what makes him stand out. Not only has the 24-year-old become the best Spaniard at his position, he may very well be one of the best full-backs in the world. Its highest Elo was 1892 points after winning against Mexico on 30 October 1938. Beyond Gorka Iraizoz, there are other promising keepers. Media related to Basque Country association football team at Wikimedia Commons. Olympic Games selection only, no full caps. Can only sign and field Basque players. [56] Controversy was caused before the match by the Spanish government deciding that the song of the Basque football team (Gernikako Arbola The Tree of Guernica)[57] should not be sung before the game. With the dip in fortunes of the regions rugby teams combined with the looming visage of Euro 2016 on the horizon, the traditionally rugby-centric region might just find its young people leaning a little more towards the round ball rather than the oval one in the coming years. Contrary to popular belief, Fernando Llorente isn't the only talent forward who could represent the Basque Country. [30] In the 193839 season they played under the name Club Deportivo Euzkadi in the Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association,[48] one of the two major leagues in Mexico at that time where they won 7, drew 1 and lost 4 games,[49] eventually coming runners up in the league. Anchored on a very strong defense with experienced holding midfielders in front, the Basques would make things difficult for any opponent. There are several veteran players that would be able to lead the team, as well as plenty of young stars that would provide energy and a strong work ethic. Also played in 1 additional unofficial wartime match in 1938: See, Only played in two unofficial wartime internationals: See, Only played in eight unofficial wartime international matches: See, Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 22:36, Basque Country national football team results, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1965, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1913, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1937, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches), Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1953, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1936, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1947, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1985, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1920, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1962, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1940, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1933, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1938, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1960, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1988, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1934, Spain national football team results (unofficial matches)#1966, "Xabi Alonso, Fernando Llorente and the Best Basque Players: A Starting XI", "Basque Greatest All-time 23 member team", "Catalonia and Basque Country reignite call for independent national football identities", "Basque Country: The Spain internationals playing for a different team", List of all Basque players who have played international football, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Basque_footballers&oldid=1140192464, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 22:36. Pairing Laporte and Inigo Martinez would be difficult due to both being left footed, but with their quality it would still be an incredible partnership and something that could be worked around. This difference of opinion encompassed the nuances of the names, their history known or unknown, and changing public opinions towards what name should be used when referring to all people of Basque culture. Playing on the right-wing would put him a bit out of his normal position, but Griezmann has played on that flank before and has the ability to do the job well. Some of the best French soccer players include national legends like Zinedane Zidane, Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet. Martinez is one of the best holding midfielders in Spain and will definitely be on his way to the World Cup this summer. Bayonnes most famous son could do no wrong on the pitch. During Franco's 36-year dictatorship it only played two games. That said, the Euskal Selekzioa would definitely be a very competitive team. Txingurri, as he is affectionately called, would provide the leadership and direction to help the team achieve success. [15] Another unique aspect in the region is the emphasis that is placed on producing local talent, with Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao assessed as consistently using the highest proportion of homegrown players across the top European football leagues in the 2010s. [71], On 28 December 2013, the Basque team played its first match in the new San Mames stadium against Peru[72] winning 60. There are several young strikers that could fight to make the cut too. Head coach: Javier Clemente The Basque Country would first have to become independent to field their own team in competitive tournaments, and even then eligibility to play for the team would likely be a tense affairs with so many players having already represented other countries. Bixente Jean-Michel Lizarazu ( Basque pronunciation: [biente lisarasu], born 9 December 1969) is a French former professional footballer who played as a left back for Bordeaux and Bayern Munich, among other teams. .mw-parser-output .nat-fs-player th{background-color:inherit;border:0}.mw-parser-output .nat-fs-player td{text-align:center;border:0}, The following players were called up to or played for the Basque Country in recent matches. Due to his consistency and experience, Iraizoz would be a great keeper in international competition. WhetherLlorente would elect to represent the Basque Country or not is a big question. Seeing as though Herrera is yet to receive a call up from Spain, he would likely feature in the Basque national team. Had this been one year ago, Mikel Balenziaga would not even be on the reserves of this list. The team has been referred to by various names including Euskadiko selekzioa, Euskal Herriko futbol selekzioa, Seleccin de Euskadi, Vasconia, Equipo Vasco, Euskadi XI and Basque XI. This complicated situation of federations splitting off continued for a few more years. Fernando Llorente is a World Cup winner and has experience playing in Europe since he joined Italian giants Juventus last summer. He excels in balancing when to go forward and when to stay back, and he is known for being a player who doesn't take unnecessary risks. Next they travelled to Argentina, arriving on 25 February 1938. In fact, Aritz Aduriz has featured in more friendlies than El Rey Leon and is an accomplished goalscorer in his right. Save Objectives. Currently, Martinez is leading the back line of Real Sociedad. Even better, his father apparently wanted to call him Thorgal, after a famous Belgian comic . 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