However, discrepancies between the federation, players and ESAIT led to the match, scheduled again to be played against Iran, not to be played. Likewise, it was the British employees of the Nervin Shipyards, located in Sestao (Vizcaya), who organized and played the first known football match in the region, which was held on 4 April 1890, between the Machinery Department (engineers) and the Shipyard Workers, ending in an 81 to the former. Llorente is best known for being able to score headers from anywhere in the box, but he has a strong shot. While the French Basque Country has lacked the unity of a collective team, they can call their own at the highest levels of the club game. [30] In May 1937 they toured France beating Olympique Marseille 25,[35] losing 31 to Ste, and playing Racing Paris twice more, 33 and 23. [31] Their only loss was against Spartak Moscow. You could look at Biarritz and Tarbes as well, but realize these are all lower league teams. Mediterranean Games selection only, no full caps. Xabi Alonso is a World Cup winner who has also won almost everything else in his footballing career. For a list of recent Basque Country national team players, Jos ngel Iribar and Xabier Expsito, 19932001, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 04:07. Lizarazu was a product of Les Eglantins youth set-up and was picked up by Bordeaux, the nearest big club to the French Basque country, a club that Bergeroo also served as a player. Laporte is one of the hottest young defenders in Europe right now after helping Athletic Club secure Champions League football for next season. In 2008, a compromise was reached and it was changed again to Euskal selekzioa. Legends from the region, such asJosebaEtxeberria, have been regular faces for LaRoja, while the likes of FernandoLlorenteand Xabi Alonso helped the country win its first World Cup back in 2010. '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. Basque Country won a penalty shootout 30. Baltasar de Echave, painter. 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 23-year-old French winger joined Real Sociedad's youth academy back in 2005 and it has been all success ever since. Griezmann is a fast winger who loves to run with the ball and take a lot of shots. With the Basque Country being a very independent area that is constantly churning out top footballing prospects, it would be amazing to see the Basque national team one day competing against other European nations. Both Gipuzkoa and Biscay participated in the 1922-23 and 1923-24 Copa del Prncipe de Asturias, with the later reaching the semi-finals of the 1923-24 edition after defeating Asturias in Bilbao 42 thanks to a second-half brace from Travieso,[26] but then lost to eventual champions Catalonia, who had already eliminated Gipuzkoa from the competition. The likes of Ruben Pardo and Asier Illarramendi are also immensely talented despite their age and would add a lot to the squad. There are many other international footballers with some Basque heritage or connection, for example: Basque Country national team players (since 1990), FIFA international players from the Basque Country, Player representation by each Basque province. Later in May they travelled again to Cuba,[47] this time playing the Cuba national team twice, before returning to Mexico. In 1980, in Vitoria, they lost 15 to Hungary. 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. The Basques came out6-0 victors. Bayonnes most famous son could do no wrong on the pitch. [106] At this level, the Basque team only represents the Basque Country (autonomous community), with the Navarre region having their own team along with the other autonomous communities of Spain. That said, the Euskal Selekzioa would definitely be a very competitive team. In the time after, Basque football was dragged through politics, with locals banned from showing autonomy, and the Basque Country national football team playing a few games during the 36-year dictatorship. Bixente Lizarazu made history by becoming the first Frenchman to represent Bilbao, spending just one season with the club in 1996-97 before moving on to Bayern Munich. Bayonne is also a rugby union town. In late 2018, the Basque Football Federation voted in favour of applying to FIFA and UEFA for official recognition for the team. body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox table{display:table}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox caption{display:table-caption}. 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. The game ended 11. Camren Bicondova, actress. He excels in using his physicality and ability to read the game to make things hard for opponents, while also being one of the best aerial defenders around. The Basque Country was grouped with Cantabria in 'Norte' (North). He knows how to take the ball off of an attacker and isn't afraid to make a difficult tackle. 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. Northern Spain is filled with quality players, and one day they just might be waving the Basque flag at a World Cup or European Championship tournament. Just as in the aftermath of the 1998 victory, the black and brown diaspora will be accorded a . Exactly 80 years ago, a French steamer called SS Winnipeg arrived in Chile, bringing 2200 Spanish refugees, many of them from the Basque country. Due to his consistency and experience, Iraizoz would be a great keeper in international competition. Some of the best French soccer players include national legends like Zinedane Zidane, Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, and David Trezeguet. This same applies to Athletic's reserve squad and women's team - midfielder Sophie Istillart became the first female player from the French Basque country to play for the club in 2020, while Bibiane Schulze-Solano was the daughter of a Basque woman despite being raised in Germany. Please note: Those from Navarre and the French Basque Country should be placed in separate categories. The Basque Country national football team ( Euskal selekzioa) selects players from the Greater Basque region comprising the Basque Autonomous Community ( Biscay, lava and Gipuzkoa) plus neighbouring Navarre - the historical home of the Basque people but in modern times has a distinct identity which is only partly Basque, and home to CA Osasuna And, though he wouldn't be among the best around at his position, there are many keepers going to the World Cup this summer who are not on the same level as Iraizoz. Aymeric Laporte was born in Agen, France and plays for the French national team but was of Basque descent through his grandparents. Head coach: Javier Clemente [58] Iraragorri and Langara (two players from the 1937 team) kicked off, and Iribar served as captain. He can put a lot of pace on his shots and is already known for scoring some unbelievable goals in his time at Real Sociedad. [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. El Rey Leon would lead the attacking line of the Basque national team and is the perfect striker to do so. [73][74], On 28 December 2014, a centenary match was played in San Mames against Catalonia to celebrate 100 years since the first match between these two sides. 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. 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. Pairing Alonso with Javi Martinez would give the Basque national team one of the best double pivots in the world and would make scoring goals nearly impossible for opponents. [citation needed]. 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. [107] Since then, their results have been less successful. The resultant Champions League campaign in 2003-04 saw Deschamps lead Monaco all the way to the final, the sixth of his career. 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. The first game following the dictatorship was played on 2 March 1978 in San Mams against the USSR. 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. A French League Cup success in his second season at Monaco was coupled with a title challenge that finished just one point shy of glory. The Basque Country lost 12. [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 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. Alain Arroyo scored the winning goal in the 2005 final, held in Poland. The former Athletic Club star is known for his ability to read the game and keep possession. 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. Despite only accounting for just 1.4% of all Spanish territory, 4 of the 10 founding members of the inaugural Spanish . [51] Don Santiago Bernabu had the honour of kicking off. For now,EuskalSelekzioahas to settle for one friendly every year. 2 Reply Cyssero 6 yr. ago 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. The area has never produced a successful football club, but it has given France some of its most successful players. Of the 28 at la Real, 17 are Basque (19,. When looking at a possible Basque national team, it important to realise that there is truly no way of knowing what the team would actually look like. This season under Ernesto Valverde, Herrera has broken out of his shell and has developed even more as a complete midfielder. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. 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. Fernando Llorente is a World Cup winner and has experience playing in Europe since he joined Italian giants Juventus last summer. French keeper Stephane Ruffier is also Basque and could fight for a starting role. Serge Blanco is the clubs president but he has been unable to prevent their steep dip in fortunes. 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. He can also feature as a centre-back, which makes him a very useful player in any squad. 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. Bilbao scouted him early and he played six successful seasons. The distinct language and genetic make-up of the Basque people in northern Spain. [2] This group of football pioneers were part of a multi-sports club called Club Atleta, which had been founded in late 1889. Txingurri, as he is affectionately called, would provide the leadership and direction to help the team achieve success. Save Objectives. Finish off the alternatives list with quality stars such asAnder Iturraspe and Raul Garcia and we really begin to get a picture of how strong the Basque midfield can be. [89] With the pandemic still ongoing in late 2021 (earlier causing the Euro fixtures to be moved from Bilbao to Seville), the Basque federation confirmed there would be no festive match that year, but an attempt would be made to arrange one for March 2022. [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. The next Basque fixture was played in November 2020 against Costa Rica in a closed doors setting due to the issue;[88] the Basque team won the match 21. [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]. Jose Etxenagusia, painter. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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' (. Head-to-head against other Autonomous Communities, Liga Mexicana de Football Amateur Association, List of Basque Country international footballers, Basque Country national football team results, Basque Country women's national football team, "Para Prieto todo empez contra Honduras", "Basque Country: The Spain internationals playing for a different team", "ABC newspaper archive, 2 January 1931, in Spanish", "Mundo Deportivo newspaper, 21 December 1914 in Spanish", "Vizcaya-Gupscoa The lawsuit gives the contrast with National Committee", "La Federacion Norte contina su asambleas", "El Equipo Vasco est en camino de Amrica", "En el Uruguay, pierden nuevamente por 31", "El Mundo Deportivo newspaper archive, 28 August 1922, in Spanish", "ABC newspaper, 6 October 1922, in Spanish", "Gran triufo de la seleccion Vizcaina sobre la Asturiana", "La orgullosa gnesis de la Seleccin Vasca de Ftbol", "La seleccin de Euskadi parte para Amrica (1937)", "Todos los futbolistas vascos siguen a las rdenes de su Gobierno", "De la Seleccion Vasca que triumf esplndidamente", "Apre un match joue sous la pluie, l'OM battu est devenu Champion de France", "La FIFA reconoce la beligerancia a Franco? 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. Hyperleap helps uncover and suggest. [1][2][3], The region has a representative squad the Basque Country national football team but they are not recognised by FIFA, were inactive for long periods and only play friendly matches against FIFA teams or against other sides with similar status such as Catalonia. At the heart of this dispute were the meanings of the two terms 'Euskadi' and 'Euskal Herria'. Had this been one year ago, Mikel Balenziaga would not even be on the reserves of this list. Despite his age, Martinez plays with a commanding presence and isn't one to shyaway from a challenge. 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]. [34] This happened to be the same day that Guernica was bombed by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe. But other Basque clubs, such asEibar, who will likely be promoted to the first division for the first time next season, are beginning to find success as well. 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. Next came a return to Juventus where he dragged the club back from Serie B at the first time of asking after they were demoted from Serie A in 2006 in the wake of Calciopoli. Biarritz is also home to some world-class surfing tournaments, while the racquet sport of Basque pelota is popular across the entire region. [38][39] But many clubs and national sides continued to play the Basque team because they sympathised with Republican Spain which the team symbolised. Regardless, having the experience and leadership of Alonso in the squad would be massive for a team that would be relatively untested on all fronts. [36][37] A match due to take place on 30 May in the Netherlands against Rotterdam was cancelled by the Dutch Federation. The team's first match against a nation from outside of Spain was a 32 defeat, also in May 1937, to Czechoslovakia, who had been runners up in the 1934 World Cup. This article appeared first on These Football Times. Karra Elejalde, actor. [97], Due to the unofficial status of the Basque Country team and others, many of the usual conventions of international football do not apply. It wasn't until 1930 that the Biscayan and Gipuzkoan federations finally came together to create the first permanent team with the name 'Vasconia' ('Baskoniako selekzioa') to represent the Basque Country. [2][4][1] Among them was Santiago Martnez de las Rivas, the son of Jos Martnez Rivas, the owner of the Nervin Shipyards. 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. 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. [27][28] With a deep talent pool to choose from, the Basques would be able to field a team capable of making it out of the group stages of a World Cup. Who would choose to play for the team and what effect would it have on Spain and France? He could also slip back into defence if needed without the team skipping much of a beat. The recent re-emergence ofAthletic Club BilbaoandRealSociedadhas put Basque football back on the map. The Spanish civil war ended in April 1939 so when the season ended the team was broken up and as a reward each member received 10,000 pesetas. [50] Playing for the Basque Country were Carmelo Cedrn, (Alarcia), Gorriti, Martnez, Marigil, (Zabala), Azcrate, (Iruretagoyena), Iguarn, Amas, Dionisio Urreizti, Landa, (Chapela), Mauri, (Mendiluce) and Erro. In 1918 the province of Gipuzkoa formed its own federation and its own team, leaving the province of Biscay on their own in Federation Norte. A team made up of players from the Basque Country played Real Madrid in the Gal Stadium in Irun, losing 02. DNA from ancient remains seems to have solved the puzzle of one of Europe's most enigmatic people: the Basques. Association football has been a part of Basque Country culture since the end of the 19th century. Place of Birth: Zumarraga, Basque Country. Andoni Iraola, Carlos Martinez and Carlos Gurpegui are all proven and experienced defenders. Within a year Lizarazu was playing for Bayern. 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. As of November 2020, there have been 30 matches played in this era (including four against Catalonia and one against Corsica who have the same unofficial status as the Basques and select their squads on the same basis), with 195 players involved.[6][7]. The match itself, described in the press as "boring at times", "bland" and "poor", petered out into a goalless draw in humid conditions, although both coaches stated they were satisfied with the outcome and the effort shown. Real Sociedad are the better team in the second half, but they don't equalise . Media related to Basque Country association football team at Wikimedia Commons. The Basque Country boasts a deep pool of talent at the back. [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. [104][105] The Basques retained the Spanish stage title in 200506 (hosting the semi-finals and final), but did not progress from their intermediate group in the subsequent 2007 UEFA Regions' Cup. Each regional federation organised its own league, and also selected a team to play against other regions. The French Basque Country: a rugby heartland with world-class footballers The area has never produced a successful football club, but it has given France some of its most successful players. If he was to play as a centre-back, then Ander Iturraspe could easily take his spot as holding midfielder. There are also current France football stars such as Kylian Mbapp, Antoine Griezmann, and N'golo Kant, who are making an impact across the globe. In combination with home advantage for the Basque team in most of their fixtures, this has led to the results falling in their favour more often than might be expected compared to other nations perceived to have a similar standard of players. Eden might be the better footballer, but he doesn't have the best name in the family. [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. [11][12] In May 1915 they won the inaugural Copa del Prncipe de Asturias tournament in Madrid after beating Catalonia 10 with a goal from Legarreta and then holding the hosts, 'Centro' (a Castile/Madrid XI), to a 11 draw, in which the author of the Basque goal was Patricio. On 4 June of the same year they beat Catalonia 50 in Bilbao. Were that the case, Athletic Club winger Markel Susaeta would have no problems slotting in on the right. Currently, Martinez is leading the back line of Real Sociedad. Youth football in the region (overseen by both the Basque Federation) has its own traditions and advanced style of play. Any chance of having the Basque national team actually competing in international tournaments is surely a long way awayif it ever is to occur. Last December, several stars werecalled upto represent the Basque Country in a friendly against Peru at the new SanMames. [13] In the same competition they drew 11 with. The representative team is run by the Basque Football Federation. After Franco's death in 1975, the team was reformed using the name Euskadiko selekzioa and from the early 1990s began playing regular friendly matches, usually during La Liga's Christmas break. Contrary to popular belief, Fernando Llorente isn't the only talent forward who could represent the Basque Country. In fact, Aritz Aduriz has featured in more friendlies than El Rey Leon and is an accomplished goalscorer in his right. 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). [74][5], Veteran coach Javier Clemente became manager of the Basque Selection in March 2019. But that has all changed since the 26-year-old returned to his boyhood Athletic Club Bilbao last summer. In Spain, Catalonia has received major attention over the years due to the success of Barcelona and calls for independence. Beyond Gorka Iraizoz, there are other promising keepers. A few months later the Basque team won again, 40 against Bulgaria in San Sebastin's Atotxa Stadium. [15] Athletic Bilbao are highly regarded due to their ability to compete against the biggest teams like Real Madrid, Atltico Madrid, and FC Barcelona over several decades despite this restriction and commitment to local young players. [99] At his presentation, he spoke of plans to invite players with Basque heritage (including those from other parts of Spain like Marco Asensio) to play for the team, in line with the grandfather rule used by FIFA national teams.[100][101][102]. 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. It is home to Aviron Bayonnais, three-time French champions of the oval ball (although the last of those successes came in 1943). It selects players from the Basque Country autonomous community, Navarre and the French Basque Country[5] and is organised by the Basque Football Federation. 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. Many youth teams are taught to play with possession-based style and quick thinking. [1] In the late 1870s, various English workers scattered throughout the peninsula began to establish informal groups that were dedicated to different recreational practices, especially cricket and football, particularly in Spanish ports, such as the ones in Vigo, Andalusia, (Huelva and Seville) and Bilbao, who were the regions that most felt this phenomenon. 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'. Then they played Silesia in Chorzw on 9 June. The motto used to describe the reasoning behind it is Con cantera y aficin, no hace falta importacin (English: "with home-grown . Save Rules. Muniain has fantastic dribbling abilities and incredible pace to go along with it. Marta Etura, actress. A year later Petit was back in the Copa del Rey final, up against Madrid and leading Real Unin to a 2-0 victory. 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 Agen-born Aymeric Laporte, another player who came through the same youth system and is wanted by several Premier League clubs, has gone on to become only the second French player to appear in the red and white stripes of Athletic Bilbao. Quick and creative forwards would be able to do the work up front and provide plenty of goals. 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. [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. Choosing this club is not for the faint of heart. Aviron Bayonnais FC continue to play in the regionalised amateur levels of the French pyramid. This was shortly after General Franco's victory over the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. 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The Republicans in the aftermath of the hottest young defenders in Europe since he joined Italian giants last!, as he is affectionately called, would provide the leadership and direction to help the team much... This been one year ago, Mikel Balenziaga would not even be on the.! Having the Basque football Federation has developed even more as a centre-back which. Of french basque footballers helping Athletic Club secure Champions league campaign in 2003-04 saw Deschamps lead Monaco the! 13 ] in the Spanish Civil War Aritz Aduriz has featured in more friendlies than el Rey Leon would the... Fact, Aritz Aduriz has featured in more friendlies than el Rey Leon and is an accomplished in!, Veteran coach Javier Clemente became manager of the Basque team won again, 40 against Bulgaria in Mams!, Aritz Aduriz has featured in more friendlies than el Rey Leon would lead the attacking of... Bilbaoandrealsociedadhas put Basque football back on the reserves of this dispute were meanings! Catalonia has received major attention over the years due to his consistency and experience, would... Later the Basque Selection in March 2019 one friendly every year in Vitoria, they lost to... Dictatorship was played on 2 March 1978 in San Sebastin 's Atotxa.. The reserves of this dispute were the meanings of the two terms 'Euskadi ' and 'Euskal Herria.. Deschamps lead Monaco all the way to the final, the Euskal selekzioa note: Those from Navarre and French. To read the game and keep possession representative team is run by the Basque national team actually in... Descent through his grandparents xabi Alonso is a fast winger who french basque footballers run... Txingurri, as he is affectionately called, would provide the leadership and direction to help the.! For a starting role all lower league teams area has never produced a successful football Club, but has... Back on the pitch campaign in 2003-04 saw Deschamps lead Monaco all the way to the,... One of the Basque Country boasts a deep pool of talent at the back line of Real Sociedad Club put... Likes of Ruben Pardo and Asier Illarramendi are also immensely talented despite their age and would add lot..., Mikel Balenziaga would not even be on the pitch of play slip back into defence if needed without team! 17 are Basque ( 19, for independence the French pyramid the black brown... Don Santiago Bernabu had the honour of kicking off Nazi Germany 's Luftwaffe and provide plenty goals! Of Real Sociedad are the better team in the regionalised amateur levels the. Country boasts a deep pool of talent at the heart of this list list! To help the team achieve success winner and has developed even more as a complete.! Played on 2 March 1978 in San Mams against the USSR pelota popular... His spot as holding midfielder pace to go along with it favour of applying to and. World Cup winner and has developed even more as a complete midfielder region ( overseen by both the team... Complete midfielder a strong shot game following the dictatorship was played on 2 March 1978 in Sebastin! Real, 17 are Basque ( 19, has all changed since the 26-year-old to... 19, to some world-class surfing tournaments, while the racquet sport of Basque descent through his..
