2026 WC USA (et al): Worldwide Opponents Watch [all R's]

In addition to Barcelona it feels like the Basque teams very much punch above their weight in terms of developing players.

But also coaches. Arteta, Alonso, Emery, Iraloa, etc.

 

Oh. I forgot. Their goalkeeper Simon (who is having a great World Cup) is Basque. Came thru at Bilbao.

I went on that trip thru Basque country last fall. I'm convinced that clubs like Sociedad and Bilbao would rather lose with Basque players than win with an international lineup.
[Osasuna is also Basque. That's in Pamplona.]

The only way they can compete at a La Liga level to do so is be development monsters...................

There's also a long history of Basque managers. Current ones? Mikel Arteta, Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso, Unai Emery. All four of them are from the same tiny province. Gipuzkoa.

The talent that comes out of that little geographic region is pretty remarkable.
How Arteta, Alonso and Iraola started at the same boyhood club - BBC Sport

 

I sadly did not pick up any insights on soccer during my trip to the Basque region this summer. But I did enjoy the pintxos in San Sebastián.

 

I'd move to San Sebastian tomorrow.

I'd weigh 400 pounds if I lived there. One pintxo at a time.

Its an interesting sociology experiment. Prior to 2010 we always heard that Spain didn't win trophies at the international level because of the regionalism.
That all of these autonomous regions of Spain had incredible levels of regional pride. There wasn't the same pride in wearing a Spain shirt. The players from each of those regions got together and couldn't work together for a common purpose. That this politics and regionalism extended to the locker room.

That's seemed to change big-time under del Bosque. It was even at the very height of the tension between Madrid and Barcelona (we remember Mourinho's tenure there circa 2010).
Somehow that generation of players came together under del Bosque (supposedly Xavi and Iker Casillas were at the heart of it), and its been the same every since.

The separatist movements are still very real from a political point of view. For football glory, though, the regions come together.

There's no question about whether soccer in regions such as Catalonia and the Basque country is a political tool, though. Yes, it is.

Spain's post-separatist team - Live Updates - POLITICO

There’s no lack of Catalans on Spain’s current national team. The country’s biggest star, Lamine Yamal, plays for Barça and was born in a suburb of Barcelona, and he’s accompanied by eight other players born or raised in the region, among them Pau Cubarsí and Marc Cucurella.

While none of them are known for making pro-independence statements, three of them — Eric García, Dani Olmo, and Joan García — were recently embroiled in controversy after being photographed with a separatist symbol. After FC Barcelona won the Spanish league title last May, the players were seen waving esteladas — a flag associated with the Catalan independence movement — while parading through the regional capital. Although some conservatives called for them to not be included in the national team, all three were ultimately tapped to take part in this year’s tournament.

 

lineups are in. Morgan Rogers gets the start on the RW, presumably.

 

Sappy preview at least brought to you by someone who knows wtf he’s talking about, still new film blah blah, out yada yada is so lame.

 

Cousin DJed is starting. England 6-0 on a DJed Spence double hat trick.

 

Were the Argentines booing the English anthem? The boos during the Argentine anthem were clearly audible on tv.

 

Ah yes, time for some real footy.



Yes, I have a massive bias towards South American ball.

 

I could barely hear either anthem

 

England v Argentina….Lets go

 

Both teams starts slow but tough play….wonder if still 11v11 the end of the match

 

lol, I was just about to write "I hope this doesn't wind up being a SF where both team plays not to loose" but we have legit pushing and shoving just 2 minutes into it

 

Unnecessary forearm to the back of Anderson's head? no card, no nothing?

 

If England lets Argentina turn it into a knife fight in the mud, game over.

 

England whining early, I see.
Never mind England has nearly double the discipline points (7yellows, 1 red) compared to Argentina (6 yellows, no reds)

for the record, I like both teams, but would be happier with an Argentina win probably. I’m the rare one who will be happy with a win by any of the three of these remaining teams.
I’m picking Spain over England in the final

 

Predictably chippy early

 

If it a classless gesture they are probably doing it. Can’t wait to see the trophy become a phallus again.

 

I'm not seeing a chance this ends 11 v 11.

What will likely happen is the ole tried and true.
The Argentines doing the dirty needs, figuring out the line, and not getting called. Some England guy gets carded for retaliating like Beckham in 1998.

 

Ref needs to start handing out yellows or he will lose control quickly.

 

Was that McLovin in an England kit?

 

Messi no touch yet, game chippy, disjointed

 

lots of diving around, mostly for England so far

 

Elfaith calls relatively more fouls and issues more cards than average, so…

 

4 fouls each first 10’