Catalans give grudging respect to Spanish team

Spain’s nationalist-minded Catalonia region has never had the same reverence for the Spanish national team as the rest of the country.

But for the first time, at the World Cup, Catalans are becoming enthralled by the success of “La Roja”, a team which is based around that of Spanish champions Barcelona.

Just a few thousand fans in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, many of them foreigners, celebrated Spain’s historic victory over Germany on Wednesday that sent the team through to the final for the first time ever.

In Madrid, home of Barca rivals Real, there were some 50,000.

The turnout in Barcelona was far from the massive crowds that take over the city to celebrate Barca victories.

But one Spanish supporter, Marcelino Sanchez, 35, said he was taken aback by the reaction to Spain’s win.

“Last night, people took to the streets wearing the shirts of the national team and carrying Spanish flags, which are usually taboo here. Of course, it will never be like in Madrid, but I was very surprised, I had never seen it.

“Normally, there’s no interest in La Roja in Catalonia. But during this World Cup, people are addicted,” said Sanchez.

Observers attribute the turnaround to both the strong Barca influence in the team, both in its players and its fluent style.

Seven Barcelona players were on the field in Durban, South Africa Wednesday night: Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Pique, Pedro, Villa and Puyol, who scored the decisive goal.

“Only the Barca captain managed to score,” commented the Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo of the goal.

The Periodico de Catalunya daily also paid tribute to “a beautiful Spanish team, harmonious, fanatically faithful to a style that has made it almost eternal,” before asking whether “that was in fact Spain? Or perhaps Barca?”

The impact of the Catalan team has not escaped the notice of many foreign journalists, to the annoyance of Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque.

“Spain is not Barcelona or Real Madrid. Today’s win is all Spanish football,” he told a news conference after the Germany match.

A sizeable minority in Catalonia would like to see the wealthy northeastern region, which has its own language and distinct culture, break away from Spain.

Barca’s former president Joan Laporta is planning to enter the political arena to campaign for Catalan independence.

Barcelona was the one of the few towns or cities in Spain not to install a giant outdoor screen to broadcast Wednesday’s match.

But on Thursday, city authorities announced that one would be set up for the final, officially to prevent disturbances.

It remains to be seen how many will turn up to watch. But Catalans will be on the street in massive numbers the day before.

A demonstration is planned for Saturday to protest changes ordered by Spain’s highest court to Catalonia’s charter of self-autonomy, under the slogan “We are one nation. We decide for ourselves.”