Many believe that the term Catalunya derives from the term “land of castles”, having evolved from castlà or castlan – the medieval term for a castellan (ruler of a castle).
The city of Barcelona, has many castles; with the home of FCB the Camp Nou being one of its most famous fortifications.
The kings of the Camp Nou have been numerous with one of the most famous being Johann Cryuff.
The mercurial Dutchman ruled as both a player and manager at the club eventually leading the Catalan giants to its first ever European Cup triumph in 1992.
On the 2nd of November 2009 it was announced that Dutch legend and former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff would be the new coach of Catalonia. His first game was a friendly against Los Albicelestes, the Argentinian team, which ended in the Catalonian side winning 4–2 at Camp Nou.
One year later another friendly challenge match was played this time against Honduras, with the hosts winning 4–0 at the Estadi Olímpico. Another year on, despite a hectic La Liga season, Catalonia played Tunisia in a dire goalless draw meaning that this tie against Nigeria at the Cornellà-El Prat home of Espanyol would be Cryuff’s last in charge.
The names of the players involved were instantly recognizable.
Pique, Puyol, Capdevila and Xavi to name only four.
The recent history of FC Barcelona is one of huge success. Modern day Catalonia is also a successful place but in the early part of the 20th century things had not been so prosperous.
After the Spanish Civil War, Franco imposed several restrictions on Catalonia, abolishing the Generalitat de Catalunya and banning the official use of the Catalan language and the Catalan flag. Despite these restrictions, the Catalan national football team continued to play regularly during the period and even played the Spanish national team twice with some guest players.
On 19 October 1947, at the Sarrià home of Espanyol they defeated Spain 3–1. Six years later on 9th August 1953, Spain avenged this defeat with a 6–0 win.
Known as Selecció de futbol de Catalunya the team is the official football side of the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia.
Its matches are organized by the unaffiliated Catalan Football Federation, unofficial in that the team are not affiliated with either FIFA or UEFA. The team therefore are not allowed to participate in either the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship.
The dominance of FCB was very evident in a team greatly influenced by the riches seemingly available on rotation from the La Masia academy – a chamber of footballing excellence that has long furnished the Catalonia national side.
The squad called up to face Nigeria had no fewer than 10 Barcelona players in its ranks.
Victor Valdes, deputy to Iker Casillas for Spain, was included whilst the defense featured Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, and Jordi Alba. The 2010 World Cup winning left-back Joan Capdevila is also an integral member of the squad, whilst Xavi and Sergio Busquets provide effortless control in the blue colors of the Catalan squad.
A multitude of other options up top include former La Masia prodigy Bojan Krkic, Jonathan Soriano, and Barcelona youngster Cristian Tello.
Nigeria were using the game primarily as a test ground looking to the African Cup of Nations due to be held later in the year. As is often the case with friendly matches so close to an international centerpiece, the Nigerian manager or Big Boss Stephen Keshi was charged with the dual tasks of assessing both domestic and overseas players and finalizing his squad plans.
The match was a typical friendly affair played in calm surroundings.
The game was all about personal experience and fan observations rather than any sense of revolutionary fervor something more typical of matches involving the unofficial Basque Country XI.
Before kick off Catalan themed musical celebrations gave way to coordinated flag waving. The host side then took the lead through a penalty promoting more flag waving among the families in attendance.
Soon after half-time the visiting nation equalized.
But despite the family feel to the occasion and lack of nationalistic fervor the flag on display was not the Senyera that is displayed on the back of the FC Barcelona shirt. Instead it was the Senyera Estelada – the starred flag or lone star flag more typically flown by Catalan independence supporters to express their support for either an independent Catalonia or independent Països Catalans (Catalan Lands, the territories in which Catalan is traditionally spoken).
The design of the Estelada comprises the red-and-yellow bars of the Senyera, but with the addition of a five-pointed star in a triangle.
Overall and in contrast to the hysterical passion of the Basque national team followers – whose fixtures are often strewn with pyrotechics and nationalistic chants – there was true family feel at the Espanyol stadium with children making up more than half of those watching on.
The fixture ended in a draw probably fair for the occasion.
At the final whistle Catalonia’s greatest adopted son Cruyff walked onto the field at the home of his club’s derby rival Espanyol and waved goodbye to the crowd.
As well as representing Catalonia on the pitch in 1976, Cruyff had managed the Catalonia national team for four years. He had led the team to a victory over Argentina and acted as a figurehead for the region in the field of unofficial international football.
Cornellà-El Prat hosted a night that was a tribute to the Catalan national team. The thanks went to Johan Cruyff, before the game, and afterwards more thanks looking to his retirement as coach of the team.
He left his position with the team undefeated under him – two wins and two draws. More an event of national thanks rather than one of nationalistic fervor.