He can also feature as a centre-back, which makes him a very useful player in any squad. [27][28] [13] As time went on, the Basque Football Federation would come into inception in 1988. Deschamps then returned to Marseille. 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. [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. Despite being mainly used a left-back under manager Jose Mourinho, Azpilicueta has played the majority of his career as a right-back and will likely do so with Spain in Brazil this summer. Just as in the aftermath of the 1998 victory, the black and brown diaspora will be accorded a . 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. On 30 December 2016 a Basque Country XI took to the pitch against Tunisia. [22] The team also played the Uruguayan national side twice, losing both games,[23][24] before visiting Brazil where they played in So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. 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. [30], Between 1939 and 1975 the Basque football team played only twice due to General Franco's dictatorship which severely limited the freedoms previously enjoyed by the regions of Spain. This article appeared first on These Football Times Follow These Football Times and Steven Scragg on Twitter Follow Guardian Football on Facebook, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Didier Deschamps lifts the Euro 2000 trophy. At that time it would have been ranked third in the world, behind only Italy and Argentina, and above the likes of Scotland, Spain, England and Hungary. Heading over to Pamplona, you have another Basque side in the form of Osasuna; despite last seasons relegation to the Segunda Divisin, they have been a regular presence in the Spanish top flight for many years. In the end the match was cancelled. The left-footed defender is known for his physicality and ability to handle aerial battles, but he is also a very good passer. [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. More posts you may like. 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. Even at present . The list of Basque footballers features male association football players from the 'Greater Basque Country', a territory with a population of around 3 million (comprising the Basque autonomous Community (Pas Vasco or Euskadi) and Navarre which are two of Spain's seventeen autonomous communities, plus the Northern Basque Country, an agglomeration community in France) who have reached international status with the national teams as specified, the vast majority representing Spain. A few months later the Basque team won again, 40 against Bulgaria in San Sebastin's Atotxa Stadium. He could also slip back into defence if needed without the team skipping much of a beat. Born in Dax in October 1899, to a mother from Madrid and a French father, Petit spent much of his childhood following his fathers work commitments as an engineer, moving back and forth between France and Spain on a regular basis until the family settled on the Spanish side of the Basque border in the town of Irun. Bilbao scouted him early and he played six successful seasons. [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. Players who have already appeared for a FIFA national team can play for the Basques in addition, but if they are simultaneously called up for both, the FIFA squad (usually Spain) takes precedence. Martinez is one of the best holding midfielders in Spain and will definitely be on his way to the World Cup this summer. Camren Bicondova, actress. Mikel Oyarzabal, perhaps Real Sociedad's most important player, was selected for both the Euros and Olympic squads and is now a fully fledged Spain international, despite previously playing one. The first game following the dictatorship was played on 2 March 1978 in San Mams against the USSR. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Category:Footballers from the Basque Country (autonomous community) . Galen Gering, actor. [2], These first football meetings were held on the quay next to the riverbank of Nervin, also known as La Campa de los Ingleses, and it was on this field that Club Atleta began to play against crews of English ships coming from Portsmouth and Southampton,[3][4] and even a new team, the Bilbao Football Club, which was also made up of British residents in the region, but not linked to the shipyards, such as Alfred Mills, who was a telegraph operator. Basque Country won a penalty shootout 30. 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. [78] Eventually, a fixture was arranged for the Basque team to face Venezuela in October 2018 at Mendizorroza,[79] which they won 42. 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. Scheduled ten days after the 201819 La Liga season had ended but prior to the second division's conclusion, various factors meant experienced players were reluctant to put themselves forward for the long trip across the Atlantic, and the small squad was augmented with promising youngsters, including four who had never played at a higher level than the regional third tier with Athletic Bilbao's reserves. [60], In 2007 the team's name was changed to 'Euskal Herria' (Euskal Herriko Futbol Selekzioa), and on 29 December they played a match against Catalonia in San Mames. 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. [2], Interest in the sport continued to grow among the local citizens, who began to practice it, and they even went as far as to challenge the British team in 1894 to a match at Lamiako,[4][6][7] and naturally, the much advanced British won by a resounding score (05), but the result did not discourage the enthusiastic locals who were quick to play another match as the sport was sparking high interest in the area. There really is only one man who would be the best candidate to lead the Basque national teamAthletic Club legend Ernesto Valverde. Within a week of leaving Marseille he was the new coach of the national side, taking France to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil and earning the chance to lead them to Euro 2016 on home soil. In 2010 however, although there was still no agreement between players and federation, the players agreed to play the match to be played on 29 December in San Mames, between the Basque Country and Venezuela, which ended 31. Had this been one year ago, Mikel Balenziaga would not even be on the reserves of this list. Eden might be the better footballer, but he doesn't have the best name in the family. Then, in 2007, after 69 years without playing outside Spain, the Basque Country faced Venezuela in San Cristbal, winning 43. 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. Media related to Basque Country association football team at Wikimedia Commons. He also won a hat-trick of League Cups. The list of Basque footballers features male association football players from the 'Greater Basque Country', a territory with a population of around 3 million (comprising the Basque autonomous Community ( Pas Vasco or Euskadi) and Navarre which are two of Spain's seventeen autonomous communities, plus the Northern Basque Country, an Up to the present time they have played 40 matches against a wide range of FIFA national teams such as Russia, Nigeria, Uruguay, Serbia, Tunisia, Estonia, Venezuela and Costa Rica, plus others against non-FIFA teams of various types. Some of the very best footballers to play the beautiful game have come from France, most notably, the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Mitchell Platini, to mention a few. But that has all changed since the 26-year-old returned to his boyhood Athletic Club Bilbao last summer. This entity played and won three games on consecutive days, and then the title after beating the Catalan club, FC Barcelona, in the final, by a score of 2 goals to 1, netted by Astorquia and the French Armand Cazeaux, both of Athletic. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [74][92][93][94][5] There is a lot of support for this within the Basque Country, with recent polls showing up to 63,5% of basques support the idea (including the French Basque Country and Navarre).[95]. Both players also happen to be good with their weaker foot, which makes things much easier as well. Real Unin were relegated from La Liga in 1932 and have failed to return since. I know about Ruffier, Laporte and Griezmann. [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. Aymeric Laporte was born in Agen, France and plays for the French national team but was of Basque descent through his grandparents. Aviron Bayonnais FC continue to play in the regionalised amateur levels of the French pyramid. One season at Chelsea brought him an FA Cup winners medal, before a final injury-hit campaign spent at Valencia culminated in a fifth Champions League final, where he could only watch on from the bench as an unused substitute as Hctor Cpers side lost out in Milan to Bayern Munich in a penalty shoot-out. An internal division split the team in 1908 and Racing Club Irn appeared. Petit made his first team debut aged just 14 and he is credited with revolutionising the way the game was played in Spain. Bernard Blancan, actor. Aduriz is the Basque Country side's top goalscorer with 12 goals in 11 games, while Sociedad legend Xabi Prieto is their record appearance-maker. 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