The Basque Country representative football team (officially, in Basque, 'Euskal selekzioa') represents the Basque Country in football. In all likelihood, Griezmann would still choose to represent France and has been listed in the country's squad list for the World Cup. I know about Ruffier, Laporte and Griezmann. The man in France behind the humanitarian effort was the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who had previously . During the first year of the Spanish Civil War the Basque team changed its name to Euzkadiko selekzioa. [58] Iraragorri and Langara (two players from the 1937 team) kicked off, and Iribar served as captain. In the end the match was cancelled. It is not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA and therefore only allowed to play friendly matches against FIFA or non-FIFA affiliated teams. Only played in one unofficial wartime international: Only played in three unofficial wartime international: See. You won't be finding first team ready players at any of these clubs. Even at present . [1][4][6][8] Two years later, Carlos Castellanos and his brother Manuel, together with a group of young Bilbainos from the upper class who had studied in England and learned about football there, founded the Bilbao Football Club (not related with the Bilbao club that existed in 189293, formed by the British) on 30 November 1900 in the Biscayan neighborhood of Algorta. 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. [36][37] A match due to take place on 30 May in the Netherlands against Rotterdam was cancelled by the Dutch Federation. Quick and creative forwards would be able to do the work up front and provide plenty of goals. and all live games on the official website of the French Football Ligue. Who would choose to play for the team and what effect would it have on Spain and France? Basque football hinges on having a strong defense, fast wingers and a target man who can finish off chances. That said, the Euskal Selekzioa would definitely be a very competitive team. 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. Anyone else? Bilbao captain, Jose Angel Iribar and the Sociedad captain, Inaxio Kortabarria carrying Basque national flag. 165 Basque players signed a statement announcing that they would not play unless the team was called 'Euskal Herria'. As of 2021, three Basque teams play in La Liga, the top division of the Spanish football system: Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Deportivo Alavs. Had this been one year ago, Mikel Balenziaga would not even be on the reserves of this list. Victor Erice, film director. JA currently sits in the 7th tier, has the lowest reputation of the French-Basque clubs, has abysmal facilities and, oh yea, no stadium. [7] During the Second Spanish Republic, they played firstly under the name of Baskoniako selekzioa (the Vasconia team) and then from 1936 as Euzkadiko selekzioa (the Euskadi team). Historic clubs like Athletic Club Bilbao and RealSociedadhave seen major success throughout the decades, and they are once more making their presence felt in the country. With that in mind, this article will take a look at what the Basque national team could look like today, as well as discussing just how competitiveEuskalHerriacould really be. Even better, his father apparently wanted to call him Thorgal, after a famous Belgian comic . 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. Thanks for the lists! The Basque National Team would likely utilize a 4-2-3-1 formation, as is normally the case, however, a 4-3-3 or even a 4-3-2-1 is not out of the question. Sarramagna represented France and played in Saint-tiennes defeat to Bayern Munich in the 1976 European Cup final. Of the 28 at la Real, 17 are Basque (19,. The team plays in the biennial UEFA Regions' Cup; they won the overall pan-European tournament in 2005, having won the preceding Spanish qualifying tournament in 200304. Biarritz Olympique, as six-time French champions and twice beaten finalists in the Heineken Cup, are one of the countrys leading clubs. This was shortly after General Franco's victory over the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. Valverde returned to Athletic last summer and has guided the club back to glory in La Liga, earning a fourth place finish and Champions League football next season. I'm starting career mode with Bilbao and was wondering are there any relatively unknown french basque players in the game with decent OR? [2] This group of football pioneers were part of a multi-sports club called Club Atleta, which had been founded in late 1889. This resulted in Carlos Garaikoetxea (the Lehendakari, head of the Basque regional parliament), the presidents of the regional councils and the mayors of the Basque capitals, all leaving the presidential box to sit elsewhere in the stadium to show their protest. If Laporte was to snub the Basque national team for France, there are several other options in defence such as Mikel Gonzalez, Carlos Gurpegui and Mikel San Jose. Deschamps passed through the clubs youth system, spending most of his school years there, before going on to scale all the peaks of club and international football at Marseille and Juventus. The United Kingdom provides one model for a sovereign state with more than one FIFA member, while the Faroe Islands is an example of an autonomous constituent country having a separate football team to the national team (Denmark). He knows how to take the ball off of an attacker and isn't afraid to make a difficult tackle. [31] Their only loss was against Spartak Moscow. [84][103], The Elo rating system was adapted for football by adding a weighting for the type of match, an adjustment for the home team advantage, and an adjustment for goal difference in the match result. [71], On 28 December 2013, the Basque team played its first match in the new San Mames stadium against Peru[72] winning 60. 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. Category for Association football players from the Basque Country . In the lower grades (such as in the Spanish regional championship[es] for youths and the UEFA Regions' Cup for amateurs), the team is either called Euskadiko selekzioa or Seleccon del Pas Vasco and exclusively represents the Basque Country autonomous community (Euskadi), with Navarre competing separately. The 33-year-old is one of the most dependable keepers in La Liga and is a regular in Basque friendlies. [1] Permission was duly granted and the racetrack became the new home of organised football in Viscaya. [6] Most of their home matches have been played in the San Mams Stadium which was replaced in 2013 by the new San Mams. Their first match with that name was against Cantabria on 29 November 1936 in Santander, when the Cantabrians won 32. However, discrepancies between the federation, players and ESAIT led to the match, scheduled again to be played against Iran, not to be played. The Basque Country beat Tunisia, who were 35th in the FIFA rankings an unbeaten in seven, 3-1 in front of 15,000 people at 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. Not only is Bixente Lizarazu one of the most-decorated French players of all-time, he is one of the most successful Basque players of all-time. The team consisted of the following players: Also attached to the team were Perico Birichinaga, as a masseur, and Ricardo Irezbal and Manu de la Sota, both as delegates.[33]. Money raised was reportedly used to fund a hospital in La Rosarie, France,[32] used by Spanish refugees, and also to help support the thousands of Basque children who had been sent abroad for safety. In June, they played Czechoslovakia again losing 21. [107] Since then, their results have been less successful. Ren Petit is regarded by many to have been Real Madrids first superstar footballer. Yet, it is not certain that Alonso would elect to play for the Basques. Regardless, Basque football is reaching a new age and the world needs to pay attention. Aymeric Laporte was born in Agen, France and plays for the French national team but was of Basque descent through his grandparents. Even with every star choosing to play, it is safe to say that the Basque national team would not be on the same level as Spain, Italy, Germany and other European giants. Chelsea full-back Cesar Azplicueta will be going to the World Cup this summer with the Spanish national team and for good reason. Most of the players stayed on in the Americas and joined teams there. This complicated situation of federations splitting off continued for a few more years. Basque Country won a penalty shootout 54. [2] A few months later, in February 1901, Athletic Club, probably encouraged by the first news about the founding of Bilbao FC, began conversations to officially establish the club, which they did on 5 September 1901, in the infamous meeting held in the Caf Garca, in which the 33 members decided to make it official and register as a sports organization with the local council. He has all the right tools of a great defender and will only get better with more experience. Though he is only Basque by birth, he relates well with the culture and has found a home in Bilbao. As most of the biggest teams in the Norte federation were Basque, such as Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Real Unin, and Arenas Club de Getxo, the team fielded by the federation was often composed entirely of Basque players, and was called 'Vasconia', 'el equipo Vasco'[8](the Basque team), or sometimes just 'Norte'. Basque Country won a penalty shootout 43. [citation needed]. [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. Llorente is best known for being able to score headers from anywhere in the box, but he has a strong shot. [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. 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. An internal division split the team in 1908 and Racing Club Irn appeared. A few months later the Basque team won again, 40 against Bulgaria in San Sebastin's Atotxa Stadium. After the team had arrived back in Spain on 5 October 1922, the players resumed playing for either Biscay or Gipuzkoa. The Basque Country has a powerful sense of its own sovereignty, and this week, its older football figures have been remembering the significant events of 40 years ago, when, in a Real Sociedad versus Athletic match, the players took to the field bearing, proudly, the Basque flag, the ikurrina. Andoni Iraola, Carlos Martinez and Carlos Gurpegui are all proven and experienced defenders. Both clubs merged later in 1915. Martinez would be a staple in the Basque national team. History. 'The fact is that it was that derby between our two teams that had endured as my best football memory - and that is despite the fact that we lost 5-0', Iribar told El Pais 35 years later. Of 25 Athletic players to appear in La Liga this season, 21 are Basque (plus four from Navarre) and 17 played for the club before first-team level. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . Basque Country score given first in all cases. It selects players from the Basque Country autonomous community, Navarre and the French Basque Country [5] and is organised by the Basque Football Federation. Throughout the years, Basque players have helped the Spanish national team achieve success. Less heralded when it comes to footballing matters is the French Basque country an area made up of a union of three provinces to the north-east of the traditionally mapped Basque Country. [10][5] Their duels aroused great expectation and served as one of the drivers of football as a mass phenomenon in Bilbao. In May 1937, the team began to have problems with FIFA. [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. Bilbao scouted him early and he played six successful seasons. Lizarazu was born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where the local footballing hero had been the goalkeeper Philippe Bergeroo, who made the squad for Frances successful Euro 84 campaign as host nation, and also went to the World Cup in Mexico in 1986. Lizarazus last act in a Bordeaux shirt was to play in the 1996 Uefa Cup final defeat to Bayern Munich. Karra Elejalde, actor. More than any other area of the pitch, picking who would fill the midfield roster spots would be almost impossible for the Basque national team. 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Many youth teams are taught to play with possession-based style and quick thinking. ", "La Seleccion Vasca ha embarcado para Mjico", "La despedida de los futbolistas vascos en Mejico", "Los Vascos llegaron a Cuba el 13 de Enero", "Arrojos, dichas y nostalgias Vascos en el Valparaso del siglo XX", "El Real Madrid Derrota a la Seleccion Vasca por 20", "Ferenc Puskas s lleg a jugar en el Stadium Gal", "Hoy, homenaje nacional postumo a Juan Gardeazbal, en San Mams", "ABC newspaper archive, 2/3/78, in Spanish", "The symbolic day an Irish XI faced their Basque counterparts", "El Pas newspaper archive 17/8/79 in Spanish", "El Osasuna justifica la ausencia de Iriguibel en la seleccion de Euzkadi", "Los Vascos y los Paraguayos en un empate a 4 goals", "EUSKAL HERRIA- CATALUA 11: Empate en un partido histrico en San Mams", "Ibarretxe asegura que el cambio de nombre de la seleccin vasca "puede ser discutible", "El PNV pide a los jugadores que no caigan en la 'trampa de la izquierda abertzale', "Los futbolistas Vascos no irn a su seleccion si no se llama Euskal Herria", "Euskadiko Futbol Federakundea Federacin Vasca de Ftbol", "Seleccin Vasca ir con todo en el amistoso contra Per", "Catalonia and Basque Country reignite call for independent national football identities", "11: Euskadi y Catalunya empatan a goles en el partido del Centenario", "Aduriz da un nueva victoria de Euskadi ante Catalua", "La Euskal Selekzioa no jugar en navidades", "No se jugar el partido entre la Euskal Selekzioa y Chile", "La Euskal Selekzioa jugar ante Venezuela el 12 de octubre", "Euskal Selekzioa will play Panama on 29 May in South America", "Pobre empate de la Euskal Selekzioa en Panam", "Empate sin goles ni ritmo de la Euskal Selekzioa en Panam", "Empate sin goles de la Euskal Selekzioa ante Panam", Euskadi anuncia un amistoso ante Argentina, pero sta lo niega, Cancelado al partido entre la Euskal Selekzioa y Argentina, Euskadi pretende a un equipo de la Eurocopa que vendr a Bilbao, Javier Clemente da a conocer la convocatoria de la Euskal Selekzioa, Euskadi gana a Costa Rica en el descuento, La seleccin de Euskadi se queda sin partido navideo, "Maragall e Ibarretxe reclaman selecciones oficiales para Catalua y Euskadi", "Los jugadores vascos reclaman la oficialidad de la seleccin de Euskadi", "Euskadi juega en Venezuela y pide la oficialidad de su seleccin", "Urkullu reclama una seleccin oficial que pueda ser anfitriona en la Euro 2020", "Naziometroa: euskal herritarrak Euskal Selekzioari buruz", "La Federacin Vasca aprueba pedir a UEFA y FIFA su oficialidad", "Basque federation applies for UEFA, FIFA recognition", "Spanish clubs refuse to release players for Catalonia-Venezuela friendly", "Clemente, nuevo seleccionador de la Euskal Selekzioa", "Clemente propondr que en la Seleccin Vasca jueguen descendientes de vascos que emigraron a Sudamrica", "Clemente is the Euskal Selekzioa's new coach and is in favor of including players from the Diaspora (listen to his interview)", "Javier Clemente medita convocar a Marco Asensio con Euskadi", "Las bajas de Zubeldia, Zaldua y Dani Garca dejan la convocatoria de Clemente en 19 jugadores", "2005: Arroyo sparks Basque celebrations", "UEFA Regions Cup 2005 Official Programme", "Selecciones: Temporada 2007/2008: Masculino: Copa Regiones UEFA", "Selecciones: Temporada 2009/2010: Masculino: Copa Regiones UEFA", "Selecciones: Temporada 2011/2012: Masculino: Copa Regiones UEFA", "Selecciones: Temporada 2013/2014: Masculino: Copa Regiones UEFA", "Selecciones: Temporada 2015/2016: Masculino: Copa Regiones UEFA", "Selecciones: Temporada 2017/2018: Masculino: Copa Regiones UEFA", Search Mexican Newspaper archive for matches (pages cannot be linked individually), Basque National Football Team as a Political Tool, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Basque_Country_national_football_team&oldid=1142031976, European national and official selection-teams not affiliated to FIFA, National sports teams of the Basque Country, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2019, Pages using infobox national football team with unknown parameters, Articles containing potentially dated statements from December 2017, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with Basque-language sources (eu), Articles with dead external links from October 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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